Collapse of housing plans is "best possible Christmas present"

By ebridges

EAST Grinstead has been handed the opportunity to shape its own future, according to the town council's leader.

James Baldwin believes the collapse of plans for a relief road and 2,500 houses in the town is "the best possible Christmas present".

Last week the Courier and Observer revealed developers behind the plans could no longer afford to pay completely for the controversial scheme.

The East Grinstead Town Council leader said: "This means it is now highly unlikely that the 2,500 house strategic development and ineffective and environmentally unsound so-called relief road will be imposed on the town.

"The town now has the very real opportunity of defining the shape of its future to suit it and not external agendas.

"The town council has already committed itself as part of its opposition to the Area Action Plan (AAP) and Core Strategy, to producing its own plan for the town.

"This plan will be designed to meet local needs, reflect local views and meet local priorities.

"It will draw on community input and must earn community support."

Mr Baldwin admits there will still have to be extra housing, but he wants to see a plan which takes the impacts on infrastructure into account.

He added: "Let's be clear. There will still be some growth in the town's housing.

"We still need to ensure a thriving town centre and an increase in local jobs.

"The AAP is dead so together let's create a better way."

What is the Area Action Plan?

- In 2004 land was identified to the west and south west of East Grinstead as suitable for a major development.

- Mid Sussex District Council decided to produce an Area Action Plan for 2,500 homes and a transport package, including associated infrastructure.

- In May 2006 a pre-submission document was published for consultation and resulted in 6,834 responses, mostly wanting rejection of the plan.

- The council decided the plan would include a full scheme of 2,500 houses and a relief road which extended into Surrey and East Sussex, which caused concerns.

- In November the AAP was integrated into the Core Strategy document, which sets out the future of Mid Sussex development