All you need to know about the West Sussex Gazette’s campaign to protect our green spaces

By Oli Poole
Published 18th Nov 2021, 14:47 BST
Updated 2nd Dec 2021, 14:56 BST
The West Sussex Gazette is campaigning to protect our county’s green fields from housing developments.

We launched the campaign on the back of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Tory Party Conference speech, in which he signalled a shift away from ‘jamming’ the South East with homes.

Prioritising building on brownfield land was also mentioned – something we heartily welcomed, given the swathes of countryside currently under threat.

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But words in a conference speech do not amount to planning policy, so we called on our political representatives to ensure action swiftly followed.

3,500 homes could be built here. Streams, woodland and ancient hedgerows can be found here, and the Knepp rewilding project fears development could harm its work.3,500 homes could be built here. Streams, woodland and ancient hedgerows can be found here, and the Knepp rewilding project fears development could harm its work.
3,500 homes could be built here. Streams, woodland and ancient hedgerows can be found here, and the Knepp rewilding project fears development could harm its work.

You can view our campaign launch comment here.

From there, we covered the concerning water neutrality issue which has put many plans in the north of the county on hold. Click here for the full story.

And from week three onwards, we have given over our front page to various groups who share our concerns.

From gaps between settlements to vast areas facing the imposition of thousands of homes, we hope focusing on a different site or issues each week will help to highlight what is at stake if the government does not change its approach.

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As ever, we welcome your views. Email us at [email protected]

Read More
11 West Sussex greenfield sites which could be lost to thousands of new homes

Please see below for our latest pieces:

Week three: Save Our South Coast Alliance outlines the scale of the environmental challenge current housebuilding pressures. Click here for the full comment

Week four: West of Ifield development – comment from those opposing up to 10,000 homes here

Week five: Goring Gap – a green space which remains at risk of development, despite council resistance to a developer’s plans. See here for the full comment piece.

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Week six: The Knepp Estate highlights how developing Buck Barn could impact on wildlife here, while West Grinstead Action Group also outlines issues with the proposals here

Week seven: Chichester Harbour Trust outlines the grave threat of housing and other issues on this beautiful asset. Click here for the full comment.

Week eight: Adversane development – ‘Rewilding farm would be better than building a new town’. Click here for the full comment.

Related topics:Boris JohnsonWest Sussex GazetteSouth EastChichester Harbour TrustAdversane

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