October 29th, 2020.

Lewes Green Party release:


Lewes District Green Party has launched an outspoken attack on the government, urging a rethink on major changes to the planning system, billed as the biggest shake-up since the second world war.

The proposals would include compulsory targets for house building, and new zones including ‘growth’ and ‘renewal’ zones that would trigger automatic planning permissions without further community consultation.

Emily O’Brien, a Green Party Councillor and campaigner explains: “We are absolutely fighting these proposals on behalf of local people. If these plans go ahead they will attack local democracy and mean our residents have even less control over where development goes. 

“We would love to see improvements to our planning system, but these proposals are a missed opportunity. There is hardly any mention of nature, of climate change, and the importance of green space and open country, verything that local people tell us really matter. Instead, there are binding housing targets that would lead to a free ride for developers.

“Our members and others have worked really hard on a full and thorough consultation response and we only hope that the government is listening and is ready for a rethink.”

The controversial consultation on planning reform has just closed and is believed to have attracted an unprecedented number of responses. The government is expected to decide on the way forward in 2021.