REX’S NOTES AUG/SEPT 2025 Local Council & Other Updates
Planning
The Martlets shopping centre in Burgess Hill town centre has received an amended planning consent to vary the large mixed use redevelopment. This comprises 172 apartments, large retail areas, a new hotel, cinema and bowling alley. Full details can be found on the Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) planning portal reference DM/25/1327. The actual delivery of this scheme is still anticipated to be via a joint venture between New River Retail, MSDC and Homes England.
The new Planning & Infrastructure bill is at an advanced stage in its parliamentary progress and is nearing completion at the House of Lords committee stage. It will then go to final report and amendments stage before being presented for Royal Assent by the Autumn. This bill contains radical and wide-ranging changes to many aspects of the planning law and administration industry – for both local authority and private sector.
Local Government Reorganisation
West Sussex County Council’s six week public consultation on the proposed options for local government reorganisation has now ended. The survey results are being collated and will be published in September. Essentially there were four options proposed.
- A whole single West Sussex new unitary authority.
- West Sussex split into two unitary authorities North & South.
- West Sussex split into two unitary authorities West & East variation 1
- West Sussex split into two unitary authorities West & East variation 2
The last option would see the current three District councils of Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex merge to form a unitary authority.
The completed business case options and consultation responses will be finalised and submitted to Government Ministers by 26 September 2025.
The Government has already confirmed that the Sussex Mayoral elections will take place in April/May 2026. This will cover the geographical areas of West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
COUNCIL ACTIVITY & MEETINGS
September is a very busy time for all local authorities.
Forthcoming meeting schedule :
East Grinstead Town Council
- 16 September – Finance & General Purposes Committee
- 23 September – Planning Committee
- 16 October – Full Council
Mid Sussex District Council
- 18 September – District Planning Committee
- 24 September – Full Council
TOWN EVENT DATES
- 18 October – PSA testing day (for prostate cancer) for gentlemen
- 18 October – Bonfire Society parade & Fireworks
- 21 October – Mayor Quiz
- 9 November – Remembrance parade & service
- 15 November – Big Reveal & Christmas lights switch on
- 7 December – Christmas Market
Rex Whittaker