Inspector approves 80 homes at Colwell Farm after appeal
A planning appeal to build new housing across three fields at Colwell Farm, on the outskirts of Haywards Heath has been approved.
Colwell Farm is a thriving habitat for many species of wildlife including flagship hazel dormice, 11 species of bats, rare birds and reptiles, as well as badgers and deer.
Planning officers at Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) recommended the approval of the application for the site in August 2025, despite councillors on the planning committee disagreeing with the planning department’s recommendation. Councillors therefore voted to refuse the application.
As a result, Miller Home lodged a planning appeal and Protect Colwell Farm Action Group was formed in opposition to the appeal.
On November 3 2026, the Planning Inspectorate published its appeal decision and accepted Miller Homes’ appeal for 80 homes on land at Colwell Farm.
The action group’s leader has criticised the council for disregarding the decision of its planning committee, following the decision to allow the site’s planning appeal and they are also questioning the council’s subsequent support for the appeal, including spending over £62,000 on legal counsel, according to the official’s contracts register.
“There appears to be a democracy vacuum in Mid Sussex,” said Ingrid Marson, the leader of the PCFG. “If democratically elected officials vote to refuse planning permission for a site, it beggars belief that the Council then spent taxpayers’ money arguing for the opposite outcome.
"It seems as if the councillors’ views are irrelevant to the Mid Sussex planning department – once they have made a decision they stick with it, no matter what any elected official or the public say.”
A MSDC spokesperson responded and said: “The Planning Committee refused the application, and the applicant appealed the Committee’s decision. The Council rejects the suggestion that the democratic process was disregarded.
"The Council’s position in respect to defending the appeal changed when the site was included in the Plan as a response to the District Plan Inspector asking the Council to consider including more homes to meet neighbouring areas’ housing needs.
“At this point Colwell Farm was included in the emerging Plan, materially changing the Council's planning and legal position. This meant the Council was unable to defend the refusal. This is because there was insufficient evidence to defend the appeal and would place the Council and taxpayers at a risk of a significant costs award.
“The Council understands residents’ concerns. Balancing these with Government housing requirements involves difficult decisions, and the District Plan ensures new homes are delivered with the infrastructure residents need, which we know is equally important.
“At the appeal, residents presented their concerns to an independent, Government-appointed Inspector, who, after hearing all the evidence, granted outline permission for up to 80 homes, subject to a legal agreement and planning conditions.”