Developers East Sussex minutes: 10 March 2026
Meeting details
Date: 10 March 2026
Time: 3pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
See the list of attendees and apologies for this meeting.
1. Welcome and introductions
1.1 JB welcomed the attendees to the meeting.
2. Review of previous minutes, 13 January 2026
2.1 JB ran through the actions of the previous meeting, noting them as either completed or in progress, and highlighting in particular the imminent deadline for responses to the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation (action 6.2).
2.2 The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
3. Market conditions / open forum
3.1 CM advised that the residential sales market has continued to perform reasonably well in general, but as noted at the last DES meeting, sales remain patchy with some sites selling very well and others far slower – a pattern also being reported in some of our neighbouring regions. There are currently no (new) reported issues regarding labour or the cost of materials. In terms of affordable housing, the new-to-the-market ‘for profit’ Registered Providers (RPs) do appear to be helping, so colleagues are encouraged to be receptive to them. BH remarked that the next affordable housing roundtable session has around 80 colleagues already registered to join. NF advised that the commercial market is still demonstrating demand, as long as sites/premises reflect the current ‘post-covid’ needs of clients.
3.2 The group noted that the biggest problem in the market is the lack of first-time buyers, and while there are reports that the government may consider introducing a ‘successor’ to the Help to Buy scheme, nothing has been confirmed, so we need to continue making the case for demand-led interventions to help first-time buyers.
3.3 The group also flagged inflationary pressures associated with the current Middle East conflict. Interest rates were assumed to be slowly and steadily decreasing, but mortgage rates saw an immediate (small) increase as the war began, and we don’t yet know what further impacts there may be – not least the knock-on effect on ‘confidence’ in the market.
4. Planning applications: new appeal rules
4.1 JB advised that a new process for making appeals to the Planning Inspectorate comes into effect from 1 April 2026, as a result of the new Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The new process, which applies to applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026, enforces a “submit once, submit right” approach, which drastically limits the ability to introduce new evidence during the appeals process where the written representations procedure is followed. The benefit of the change is that it speeds up the planning appeals process significantly. NF noted a push for the quality of applications too, so it’s obviously in everyone’s interests to have sensible dialogue from day one (e.g. detailed pre-app discussions) to ensure planning applications are accurate. JB suggested this is something for all colleagues to be aware of, and we’ll see how it all develops over the coming months.
5. Skills Analysis in Construction
5.1 BH advised that the South East Housing and Development Group (SEHDG) is working with the South East Construction Technical Excellence College (SECTEC) on a regional skills analysis, aiming to better understand the labour/skills challenges affecting housing delivery. DES colleagues have already been invited to input via a survey, and two roundtable discussions in February 2026 have also been held.
5.2 Some of the issues raised so far include an ageing demographic coupled with a low volume of new entrants; significant skills gaps in disciplines such as building safety regulations, quality control and modern methods of construction (MMC); and the need for more digital skills – so some of the gaps require a different set of skills to what the industry is used to.
5.3 JB commented that the above work is ongoing, but as the deficit in construction industry skills is an obvious barrier to long-term development, it’s a topic that deserves attention, so suggested bringing it back to a future DES meeting for a more comprehensive discussion and to share the learning from the workshops.
6. Sewerage issues / Southern Water
6.1 NF summarised the discussion of the previous DES meeting related to Southern Water’s strategy to hold waste onsite, and Wealden DC’s progress in implementing that strategy to resolve sewerage issues at a number of development sites through their published Foul Drainage Framework.
6.2 CBe advised that ongoing conversations with developers are very productive, with a good number of sites now unlocked. There are still some problematic sites (where developers are continuing to build without observing the foul water conditions) but those are being addressed, so the overall situation has dramatically improved. CBe suggested we’re now in the position of having a solution if not the solution, so would still urge the industry to seek a better long-term resolution. He also implored any colleagues involved with difficult sites to get in touch to discuss.
6.3 The group discussed the above and again highlighted some obvious concerns, in particular the significant cost to the developer of the onsite storage solution. The problem stems from the water companies’ lack of capacity, poor infrastructure, underinvestment etc, so asking housebuilders to continue paying water infrastructure charges and meet these costs is infuriating. CBe agreed and offered to help draft joint letters (on behalf of the housing developers and planning authorities) if that’s what colleagues wish to do.
6.4 CBu queried whether it is the developer or the water company that will need to maintain the onsite solution, and how long for – i.e. are we assuming the problem will be resolved at some point and the storage tanks removed, and if not, who is responsible if it starts to fail in say twenty or thirty years’ time? CBe clarified that, according to Southern Water, they have confirmed that they will adopt the kit so it won’t become anyone else’s problem long-term, and if/when it is no longer needed it can simply be capped off.
6.5 SL offered to help liaise with Southern Water colleagues from the relevant department to invite them to engage with the DES forum.
Action: NF to follow up with SL to invite Southern Water partners to join/engage with the DES forum.
7. Homes England update
7.1 RM recapped that Homes England (HE) published its five-year Strategic Plan in December 2025, setting out six clear strategic objectives that support the government’s aim to deliver 1.5 million new homes across England by the end of this parliament. As part of this Plan, HE will launch its new National Housing Bank on 1 April 2026, the purpose of which is to offer affordable, flexible loans and financing options to support SME developers and help accelerate housing delivery. The new National Housing Delivery Fund will also be launched at the same time. Guidance for each of these will be published before the end of the month.
7.2 Already launched last month, the government’s new £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) is now live and accepting bids. The programme offers grant funding to support the delivery of 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the ten-year period 2026 to 2036. Two funding routes are available: Strategic Partnerships – applications through this route will close on 15 April 2026 – and Continuous Market Engagement (CME).
7.3 RM reminded the group that HE is moving to a ‘regionalised’ operating model from 1 April 2026. Comprised of five regions across England, DES falls under the South region, led by Kate McBride as Executive Regional Director. RM confirmed he will also remain in the South region so will continue to be part of the DES forum.
8. Other DES updates – for information
8.1 MC advised that the government has now published guidance to help councils prepare their Local Supported Housing Strategies, which need to be in place by March next year.
8.2 ES advised that a decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is expected imminently. The government consultation on compliant bids – including the One East Sussex bid proposing a single unitary for our county, plus the submission from Brighton and Hove proposing five unitary authorities across Sussex – closed on 11 January 2026. It is possible that decisions could be delayed until after the local elections in May, but currently we’re still expecting an announcement later this month.
8.3 On the separate process of Devolution, following the government’s decision to continue with the establishment of a mayoral strategic authority in Sussex from 2026 while postponing the actual mayoral elections until 2028, the amended Statutory Instrument needed to create the Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority (SBCCA) has now been issued by the government, for constituent councils to agree. This is currently in progress and is expected to be completed over the next few weeks, so vesting day for the new SBCCA will be later this month.
8.4 Local Planning Authority colleagues provided the following updates on their draft Local Plans:
- Eastbourne Local Plan: Regulation 18 (Reg18) public consultation now open, running from 13 February to 10 April 2026.
- Hastings Local Plan: Reg18 public consultation open from 20 February to 7 April 2026.
- Lewes Local Plan: The Reg18 consultation on Phase 1 was completed at the start of last year, and the recent Phase 2 (spatial strategy and site allocations) Reg18 consultation ran from 18 December 2025 to 28 February 2026.
- Rother Local Plan: Reg18 public consultation open from 26 January to 23 March 2026.
- Wealden Local Plan: Reg18 public consultation open from 6 February to 27 March 2026 (extended by a week).
8.5 In regard to the ongoing ‘Developers Sussex’ (DeS) pan-Sussex expansion, JB asked colleagues to please continue reaching out to partners to promote the forum.
9. Any other business (AOB)
9.1 None.
Summary of actions
6.5 NF to follow up with SL to invite Southern Water partners to join/engage with the DES forum.
Attendees and apologies
Attendees
- BB, Beverley Bayliss, East Sussex CC
- BH, Brian Horton, South East Housing & Development Group
- CBe, Chris Bending, Wealden DC
- CBu, Craige Burden, Barratt David Wilson Homes
- CM, Chris Moore, Bellway Homes
- DE, Dave Evans, East Sussex CC
- ES, Edward Sheath, East Sussex CC
- HF, Hayley Frankham, Wealden DC
- JB, Jonathan Buckwell, DHA Planning (CHAIR)
- JC, Janan Clatworthy, B.Yond Homes
- JS, John Stebbings, n/a - independent
- JT, James Taylor, Greymoor
- KB, Kerri Bland, Persimmon Homes
- KR, Karl Roberts, Arun DC
- LB, Lucinda Batcheler, Cavendish Consulting
- MB, Mark Bewsey, DHA Planning
- MC, Michael Courts, East Sussex CC
- MD, Marc Dorfman, Eastbourne BC / Lewes DC
- NF, Nick Fenton, Nick Fenton Associates
- OK, Oliver Kleinman, South East Consortium
- OM, Owen Mcleod, Marrons
- PD, Paul Dadswell, Vistry Homes
- PL, Paul Lemar, B.Yond Homes
- RJ, Richard Jones, East Sussex CC
- RM, Rob Moore, Homes England
- SL, Steven Lewis, Southern Water
Apologies
- AF, Amy Fearn, Rother DC
- AW, Alistair Wickens, Team East Sussex (TES)
- DG, Derek Godfrey, Westcotte Leach
- HD, Huw Davies, Sea Change Sussex
- MH, Mike Hughes, Rother DC
- NB, Nigel Brown, East Sussex CC
- RT, Ryan Trodden, MHCLG