Karen Dunn

Mid Sussex District Council's planning committee refused Cross Homes (Sussex) Ltd's application for a three-storey block of six flats beside the Kilnwood Apartment blocks in Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath. Officers and several councillors said the scheme would be cramped, contrived, intrusive and harmful to the area's character, while councillors Paul Kenny and Mike Kennedy supported it on housing-need grounds. The decision followed two earlier refusals for a nine-flat scheme, one of which was upheld on appeal, and was passed by seven votes to three with one abstention.

Jay Mercer, three months into his leadership of West Sussex County Council, is overseeing a politically fragmented administration formed by the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour after the council lost overall control. With the council due to be replaced by two unitary authorities in 2028, Mercer identifies road maintenance, public understanding of council services and the backlog of education, health and care plans as priorities. He says pothole repairs could cost £400 million and pledges to direct additional government grant money toward highways. Mercer also supports a proposed division of West Sussex into two authorities, warning that an alternative government arrangement could leave Arun, Adur and Worthing £42.6 million worse off annually. A final government decision is expected no earlier than October, with possible legal challenges still under consideration.

Chichester District Council’s planning committee unanimously refused plans by Shorewood Welton Place LLP to build nine homes behind The Folly in Tinwood Lane, Halnaker. The proposed development included two two-bedroom, three three-bedroom and four four-bedroom houses, but councillors cited excessive house sizes, the site’s location outside the settlement boundary, inefficient land use, the absence of affordable homes and insufficient protection for bat habitats. Although Boxgrove Parish Council supported the scheme and the developer said it would provide much-needed housing, councillors Donna Johnson and Charles Todhunter said the location could work but the proposal needed to be redesigned.

NJS Group has submitted plans to Chichester District Council to demolish its storage buildings on Quarry Lane and replace them with 12 commercial units and parking. The company says the proposal would create an attractive industrial park aimed at smaller businesses, with units in a range of sizes. The application is listed under reference 26/01427/FUL.

Sackville School in East Grinstead will receive £1.6 million to replace its ageing all-weather sports pitches and upgrade associated facilities. The funding includes £815,000 in Section 106 developer contributions, £625,000 in Schools Basic Need funding and £160,000 from the school. The project includes new pitches, fencing, LED lighting, an acoustic barrier, hard-standing areas and resurfaced long- and triple-jump pits, with completion expected in the spring term of 2027. The school says the improved facilities will support both pupils and the wider community.

The first crew took 18 minutes to reach a fire in Crawley that destroyed four homes and damaged six others, as West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was dealing with multiple large fires across the county. Crews from several West Sussex stations, along with services from Surrey and East Sussex, attended. The service said it would review the incident and dynamically deploy resources, while former firefighter Tony Morris argued that reduced staffing and inadequate resources contributed to slower responses. Staffing has improved, but adequate crewing at on-call stations remained only 46%, with 14 of the county's 25 stations entirely reliant on on-call firefighters. Investigators attributed the Crawley fire to an electrical fault rather than a bonfire, and officials urged residents to take additional precautions during hot, dry weather.

Worthing councillor Martin McCabe has written to BT criticizing the poor condition of phone boxes on Montague Street, Chapel Road and South Street, saying an engineering visit left them largely unchanged. He is calling for comprehensive cleaning and refurbishment and suggesting modern street-hub replacements. The request forms part of broader efforts by Worthing Borough Council and local partners to improve the town centre, including the Pride in Worthing initiative, cleaner public spaces and measures to address pigeon waste. More than 600 people opposed proposed fines for feeding birds, prompting the council to consider alternative solutions.

Arun District Council refused two Northgate Properties applications for up to 120 and 130 homes on land north of Summer Lane near Pagham Waste-water Treatment Works. Although planning officers recommended approval, councillors cited flooding, loss of agricultural land, departure from the development plan and concerns about odour. Flood risk was the main reason, with both proposals failing the sequential test; councillors also opposed raising part of the site by one metre. Committee chairman Simon McDougall said the proposal could return within six months as national planning policy changes progress.

The Barber of Bosham has applied to Chichester District Council for permission to operate from a temporary hut at Broadbridge Business Centre on Delling Lane. The proposed 2.5-year arrangement would allow the business to become established while its permanent premises are built. The application is registered under reference 26/01452/FUL.

Councillors congratulated Clare Apel, chairwoman of Chichester District Council, on receiving an MBE for her contributions to the voluntary sector, local government and Holocaust education. Leader Adrian Moss praised her long service, while Apel highlighted the importance of educating young people about genocide and human rights, work she and her husband undertake through Chichester’s Holocaust Memorial Day initiatives.

A 30‑metre Sky Club Big Wheel will be installed at Tilgate Park in Crawley from August 15 to 31, following an announcement at a borough council meeting. Councillor Chris Mullins highlighted it as a unique way to view the park. He also noted that Tilgate Zoo admission will be reduced until September 1 as part of a national VAT‑cut initiative under the Great British Summer Saving scheme.

A Chichester warehouse at the corner of Caledonian Road and Stirling Road will be demolished and replaced with three terraced houses, with additional alterations to two nearby flats. Despite objections citing over‑development, parking concerns and loss of commercial space, planning officers approved the proposal, citing its contribution to housing needs and its positive impact on the local conservation area.

West Sussex County Council approved the expansion of St Anthony’s Special School in Chichester, increasing capacity from 264 to 314 students by September 2027 following the relocation of Jessie Younghusband Primary School. The council cited rising numbers of children with Education, Health and Care Plans and a shortfall in specialist places as key drivers. The project has £4.138 million in approved capital funding, and a public consultation in 2025 showed strong support for the plan, which aims to enable more children with special educational needs and disabilities to attend school locally and reduce reliance on costly independent provision.

Sussex is set to elect its first regional mayor in 2028 as part of a broader devolution deal that will dissolve existing councils and replace them with unitary authorities. A new Strategic Authority has been established to manage regional responsibilities such as transport, housing, economic development, and climate policy, supported by £117 million in initial funding. The authority’s six‑member board will operate until the mayor assumes leadership, while future staffing levels and headquarters remain undecided. Regional mayors are highlighted as influential advocates capable of securing investment for infrastructure and local priorities.

Friends and colleagues mourn the death of long‑serving Crawley representative Richard Burrett, who served more than three decades on both Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council. Tributes highlight his dedication, competence and cross‑party respect, noting his unique leadership roles and his recent recognition as a Freeman of the Borough.

A former MOT garage in Chichester’s Quarry Lane industrial estate has received approval from Chichester District Council to be converted into a fitness centre. The application by Pacegym Ltd includes limits on opening hours, membership capped at 100 people, and a maximum of six users per hour. Planning officers concluded the development would not negatively affect the city centre’s vitality or the estate’s economic viability.