Letter to the editor: Ecological emergency: Renewed call for immediate joint declaration within ancient parish of Ifield

The CPRE Sussex objection to Homes England’s West of Ifield planning application (DC/25/1312) especially provides a deeply evidence-based foundation for declaring an Ecological Emergency: 🌿 1. Grounds for Declaring an Ecological Emergency x8g3qyt (a) Severe and Irreversible Ecological Harm The CPRE submission endorses the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s objection, confirming that:

• The application fails to provide adequate mitigation or compensation for biodiversity loss.
• It would destroy floodplain wetlands and aquatic habitats in Ifield Brook and the River Mole, contradicting the developer’s claim that these would be “maintained.”
• The Environment Agency itself warns of “permanent degradation” of river and wetland habitats and an “inadequate” biodiversity assessment.

➡️ Ecological Emergency Criterion: Irreversible loss of wetland ecosystems and species habitats central to local biodiversity. (b) Breach of Statutory Environmental Protections The proposal conflicts with multiple Horsham District Planning Framework policies:

• Policy 25 – Natural Environment and Landscape Character
• Policy 26 – Countryside Protection
• Policy 31 – Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity
• Policy 35 – Climate Change
• Policy 38 – Flooding

➡️ These cumulative breaches demonstrate that the development undermines the environmental objective of sustainable development (NPPF §8) and violates the precautionary principle central to ecological emergency declarations. (c) Failure of Water and Climate Safeguards The Environment Agency raises grave concerns about:

• Aquatic habitat damage and loss of floodplain function.
• Unproven water neutrality claims — the private groundwater system lacks credible testing data.
• Thames Water confirms that the Crawley wastewater treatment system is already at capacity, risking sewage pollution in Ifield Brook.

➡️ These are systemic failures of environmental infrastructure that justify emergency-level intervention to prevent ecological collapse. (d) Climate and Air Quality Impacts Homes England’s plan is inconsistent with local and national climate policies:

• The destruction of mature meadowlands and woodland carbon sinks.
• Substantial increase in vehicular emissions from 3,000+ homes and new road corridors.
• Aircraft noise and emissions from Gatwick’s second runway pose a direct threat to human and ecological wellbeing.

➡️ The CPRE rightly calls for a precautionary approach — the same principle underpinning official ecological emergency declarations such as at Brislington Meadows. 🌳 2. Supporting Evidence for an “Ecological Emergency” Declaration

🕊️ 3. The Ancient Parish of Ifield Context

• The Ifield Brook Meadows area is an interlinked ecological system connecting to the River Mole catchment, with ancient hydrology and recorded biodiversity of regional importance.
• The Ifield Society’s call for an Ecological Emergency aligns directly with the Environment Agency’s warning that the area’s wetlands and watercourses face permanent degradation.
• The CPRE’s national mission—to “promote, enhance and protect a thriving countryside”—provides institutional support for Ifield’s community-based declaration.

➡️ In this sense, the Ancient Parish of Ifield is a microcosm of the national ecological emergency, making it an ideal site for a formal, symbolic, and practical declaration. 🛑 4. Policy Implication Based on this document: “Permission should be refused” (CPRE Sussex, §3.1) The evidence base demonstrates:

• Significant and irreversible damage to protected ecological systems.
• Contradictions between applicant data and independent environmental authority findings.
• Systemic planning failure following the suspension of the Horsham Local Plan examination.

Together, these justify an official joint declaration by Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council that: “An Ecological Emergency exists within the Ancient Parish of Ifield due to imminent and irreversible harm to biodiversity, hydrology, and climate stability caused by speculative large-scale development” In conclusion, the Government’s master-developer Homes England has submitted a speculative West of Ifield planning application [DC/25/1312] which is ecologically and environmentally insane, and must be rejected - without hesitation. Richard W. Symonds. MCIPD The Ifield Society Ifield Street, Ifield Village Crawley, West Sussex