Local (and national) Government news from Cllr Rex Whittaker
THE BUDGET
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon John Healey, will deliver his budget on Wednesday 28 October. This follows on directly from the party conference season and in particular Prime Minister Burnham’s pledges for a ten-year plan and long-term investing in more public utilities such as water, and a new national care service.
We already know about identified and agreed extra expenditure in the defence budget. So the big conundrum is how will he square the circle of expenditure without breaking the fiscal rules. The recent Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) macro-economic reports have been quietly reassuring. However the bond markets remain very volatile and will react to any large budget deviations or aberrations in the spending and borrowing numbers.
The Bank of England has kept interest rates the same in September – but we know significant inflationary pressures are feeding through the pipeline, with unleaded petrol jumping from £ 1.52 to £ 1.74 a litre in only two months. Another 4% hike in the energy price cap is expected in January. Time for deep breaths and battening down the hatches.
DIGITAL PICTURE HOUSE SUCCESS
A really good news success story is that our very own EGBA member, the Digital Picture House, who are currently completing an exciting full refurbishment of The Atrium cinema, have been selected by Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) to be the nominated specialist cultural partner to pioneer the complete re-development of the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath. A planned £23 million mixed scheme of cinema and community building with town houses has been announced by MSDC. A planning application will be processed in 2027 with hopeful site start in 2028.
PLANNING SCENE
Another extremely busy month in the local and national planning world. The newly-issued National Planning Policy Framework has very large teeth and is now starting to bite. A dramatically streamlined planning application decision making matrix will become live on 31 October. This will greatly reduce the number of applications being decided by councillors at planning committees. Instead professional planning officers will be delegated responsibility to decide most applications.
In the past month detailed planning consent was granted by MSDC to the very large Vistry Homes 550 dwelling scheme at Imberhorne Farm. This follows from an outline consent granted in 2025. Full details can be viewed on the MSDC planning portal reference DM / 26 / 0131 / RMA and Works are now expected to start before Christmas.
A smaller section of this overall parcel of land (adjacent to Bluebell Close and Otterbourne Place) has been designated for a specialist Care Village. A detailed planning application for 134 dwellings has been made by Rangeford Properties and full details can be viewed in reference DM / 26 / 2163 RMA. Again this site already has the benefit of an outline planning consent. A decision here is expected by January 2027.
DIARY DATES
– 27 October is the Mayor Quiz at Meridian Hall
– 28 October is the Govt Budget statement
– 8 November is Remembrance Parade and Service
– 21 November is Christmas Lights switch – on and ‘ Big Reveal ‘ event
Rex Whittaker
15 October 2026