East Grinstead council is trying to block its county council's plan to build more than 830 affordable homes in the town.
The homes are part of West Sussex council's revised structure plan, which is out for public consultation until 20 February.

It proposes 2500 new homes for East Grinstead, at least one-third of which would be affordable.

The town council and local pressure groups say the homes would change the character of the area, making it a dormitory town for commuters from nearby Crawley and creating local congestion and parking problems.

James Baldwin, leader of East Grinstead council, added: "If the housebuilding deal can't provide the town with real benefits such as an effective relief road, affordable houses and additional infrastructure, the town council is just not interested."

We have to make tough decisions that upset some people

Mike Elkington, West Sussex county council

The county council is under pressure from the government to push through housing schemes and has been given a target of 46,500 new homes by 2016.

Mike Elkington, planning services group manager (local policy) for the county council, said: "We have to make tough decisions that are going to upset some people. We are trying to go for large-scale development to maximise affordable housing and infrastructure benefits."

Source

Housing Today