Letter to the editor: Full public scrutiny of Homes England's West of Ifield planning application within the ancient parish
Homes England's Head of Planning & Enabling Chris Bearton states ['Homes England to submit application for 3,000 homes in West of Ifield', Crawley Observer/West Sussex County Times, May 7/8 2025]:
"Even if the [Horsham] Local Plan falls away, we're still anticipating to submit that planning application"
Bring it on, Mr Bearton!
This Head of the Government property developer further states:
![Ancient Parish ['West of Ifield']](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjliMWEzNDM2LThkZTAtNDIyNi1hYmNiLWMwNzg5YzlkYTFjYToyMjcxOGZmMy0zZDYzLTRlNzUtYWQ5Ni1lNjRkNjY3ODM0ZWM=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
"It [the West of Ifield planning application] would still go through the level of scrutiny and assessment that any other planning application would need to"
Indeed, Mr Bearton, and more so as you are a housing quango appointed by a Government elected by us, the people - and accountable to us, the people.
So, we look forward to fully scrutinising and assessing your West of Ifield operations - not least your land deal in and around Ifield Golf Club ['Homes England plans £3bn Crawley garden village', Estates Gazette International - EGI, July 29 2019].
Richard W. Symonds
![Ancient Parish of Ifield [outlined in black] - showing Ifield Brook Meadows and Ifield Golf Club across the centre of the picture]](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjA4MzNlOGEzLWJlODctNGIyYy04ZDdhLTQ1MzI5NDVmM2YxMzo0N2I3MzhjYi00OTI0LTQ2N2YtYmEzNS02NWVkNTRmNDc0MWI=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
The Ifield Society
Ifield Street, Ifield Village
Crawley, West Sussex