CUCKFIELD & ANSTY, WEST SUSSEX
CUCKFIELD & ANSTY, WEST SUSSEX
LHLA was approached by local residents and two Parish Councils for advice on a proposed residential scheme for 1450 new homes close to the two historic villages of Cuckfield and Ansty, and adjacent to the High Weald National Landscape.
Initially the project concerned the site allocation for new housing in the Mid Sussex District Plan; LHLA undertook a LVIA for the site which was subsequently removed as an allocated site from the consultation draft District Plan.
The application was refused by Mid Sussex and appealed by the developers. In March 2026 LHLA was instructed by the two parish councils to act as Expert Witness on landscape matters. The public enquiry was in June 2026, PINS ref: 6002030. The Inspector's recommendation is due in September 2026; the case has been called in by the Secretary of State so a final decision is not expected imminently.
Myself and my colleagues on the Ansty and Staplefield Parish Council engaged the services of Louise in order to help oppose a speculative housing development on a greenfield site to the east of the village of Ansty in West Sussex.
She provided for us timely, comprehensive, value for money documents with which we were able to better oppose the developer's plans. She writes in clear unambiguous terms that can be easily understood both by lay readers whilst presenting facts and arguments in proper planning terms. Although the primary purpose of her work was to furnish us with the material we needed to highlight the landscape harms that the developer's proposals would cause, her LVIA is also an attractive well illustrated document in its own right. It will continue to be a valuable reference work for the Parish Council and others for many years to come.
Louise is easy to talk to, always helpful and of the highest professional calibre. It has been a joy to work with her.