Developers Sussex minutes: 8 September 2026
Meeting details
Date: 8 September 2026
Time: 3pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
See the list of attendees and apologies for this meeting.
1. Welcome and introductions
1.1 BH advised that he would be chairing the meeting as JB was engaged at a family commitment and had sent apologies. BH welcomed the attendees to the meeting and led round table introductions.
2. Review of previous minutes, 14 July 2026
2.1 BH confirmed that the previous action (Millie Dodd to share her good practice guide to engagement in the planning system) was completed. The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
3. Market conditions / open forum
3.1 The group discussed the current state of the market, acknowledging that it’s been a consistently challenging time for house building, with the residential sales market remaining ‘patchy’ overall. The market is very price sensitive, compounded by build costs affecting the ability to make existing sites work, and therefore impacting the viability of new sites. The market is moving, albeit slowly, but the supply of viable sites on the horizon is significantly reduced. And while this is an industry-wide problem, it seems even more profound in the southeast region.
3.2 The commercial market is similarly price sensitive. Existing stock can take an inordinate amount of time to push over the line due to nervousness and uncertainty in the market. Newbuild sites can also take years to move from initial purchase to a completed build, and are therefore affected by holding costs as well as build costs, meaning developers are approaching sites with extreme caution and only considering prime locations where there’s obvious demand and good value for money.
3.3 The affordable housing market appears to have shown some improvement, but take-up is still relatively low overall. There is appetite amongst Registered Providers (RPs) but not to a significant level, and while some RPs are keen to contribute to this market, they’re finding it difficult to make sites viable.
3.4 BH highlighted two pertinent items published by MHCLG last month: a letter to all Council Leaders from the Secretary of State for Housing on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and the reinvigoration of council housebuilding; and a guidance note on Section 106 affordable housing engagement:
- Reinvigorating Council Housebuilding Letter to all Council Leaders
- Section 106 Affordable Housing Engagement Guidance
3.5 BH also advised that the next Affordable Housing Roundtable event is scheduled for 18 September 2026, and as always, all DeS colleagues are invited to participate.
4. Local Planning Authority updates
4.1 SR advised that following the last Regulation 18 public consultation earlier this year, the Wealden Local Plan is expected to go out to Regulation 19 consultation later this month, subject to an upcoming Full Council decision. He added that the team has also recruited to the post of Drainage Officer, adding expertise on surface and foul water to the team.
Post-meeting update: the Wealden Local Plan Reg19 consultation is now open, running from 21 September to 2 November 2026.
4.2 GQ advised that the Rother Local Plan is running to a similar timetable, with the last Reg18 public consultation ending earlier this year, and the Reg19 consultation expected to launch in the autumn.
4.3 MD observed that the number of successful planning applications, as well as pre-applications, across Eastbourne and Lewes Councils is significantly down on previous years. He noted that whilst nimbyism plays a part in this, it’s incumbent upon all of us to explain to the public why we need more homes, and we need to work together to explore better ways of engaging with residents to deliver that message. He suggested that more innovation from the private sector would also help (in terms of housebuilding design, water usage, ecology etc). BH again recalled the action from the previous meeting, and recommended that all colleagues review the “good practice guide to engagement in the planning system” from Millie Dodd (already shared with DeS colleagues but can be recirculated on request).
4.4 ABC advised that the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) is currently preparing its Prosperity Strategy, the aim of which is to establish a long-term ‘shared vision’ for the pan-Sussex region and set the investment priorities, as devolved powers and funding are transferred. It will also underpin the future development of the Local Growth Plan (identifying priority growth opportunities and investment propositions) and the Spatial Development Strategy (setting the long-term framework for growth, housing, infrastructure and place-making). Currently at the engagement stage, a draft version is expected to be produced by November 2026, after which a full consultation will be undertaken, with a finalised Prosperity Strategy to be adopted early in the new year.
5. DeS future priorities
5.1 BH set out a proposal to create a focused work programme for the Developers Sussex forum, building upon the existing good work of the group to ensure DeS continues to be an influential, collaborative and delivery-focused group that helps to resolve issues, inform policy and shape the future housing and planning system across Sussex.
5.2 The current suggestion is to produce a two-year programme covering the following priorities:
- Supporting the transition to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and Devolution;
- Helping to shape new planning and governance arrangements;
- Improving coordination with statutory consultees and infrastructure providers;
- Accelerating affordable housing delivery;
- Identifying practical solutions to stalled Section 106 schemes and other barriers to delivery;
- Creating a more action-focused forum, with members helping to lead specific workstreams.
5.3 DeS colleagues endorsed the proposal and made the following comments:
- LGR has been unexpectedly paused (see government announcement) so may lose pace as a prioritised action, making it even more important to engage with the SBSA and ensure our collective asks are addressed at a strategic level. SBSA will have statutory documents, and we can start to inform them now.
- Affordable housing is a key priority, and the ongoing affordable housing roundtable sessions are a vital medium to feed into that action.
- The issue of engaging local residents in the planning process, and any proposed solutions, could (and should) be elevated and rolled out at a strategic level.
- The suggestion to create a more action-focused forum could be linked with local place-based partnerships.
- There aren’t any ‘sides’ as we all want the same outcomes, so working together is fundamental. We should encourage honesty and directness in our conversations, but also remember to listen to each other, as understanding is key.
- Any asks of government will have a lot more weight from a forum like this with lots of private sector involvement, not just public sector authorities.
- Let’s not just discuss these issues at DeS meetings, but engage with the issues outside the meetings too. A call-to-arms for all of us.
6. Homes England update
6.1 RM advised that the National Housing Delivery Fund (capital grant funding to help unlock sites to accelerate housing delivery) and the National Housing Bank (affordable loans and finance to support SME developers) have both continued to experience very high levels of traffic.
6.2 Homes England (HE) has now announced the 33 Strategic Partners to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) 2026 to 2036.
6.3 RM added that HE will be seeking to establish a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) with the new SBSA in due course. SPPs are formal, long-term collaboration agreements between HE and Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England to align national housing and regeneration funding with local economic priorities.
7. Other DeS updates – for information
7.1 BH advised that MHCLG published its revised National Planning Policy Framework on 18 July 2026. We’ll consider and discuss the implications at a future DeS meeting.
8. Any other business (AOB)
8.1 None.
Summary of actions
None.
Attendees and apologies
Attendees
- ABC, Alison Blom-Cooper, Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA)
- BB, Beverley Bayliss, East Sussex CC
- BH, Brian Horton, South East Housing & Development Group
- CM, Chris Moore, Bellway Homes
- DE, Dave Evans, East Sussex CC
- GF, Gemma Forshaw, Wealden DC
- GQ, Graeme Quinnell, Rother DC
- HF, Hayley Frankham, Wealden DC
- JP, Joe Powell, Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA)
- JT, James Taylor, Stantec
- KBn, Kerri Bland, Persimmon Homes
- KBx, Kim Bloxham, East Sussex CC
- 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
- NB, Nicola Bale, Places for People
- NF, Nick Fenton, Nick Fenton Associates
- PD, Paul Duffy, Betteridge & Millsom
- RB, Rick Bhatia, Southern Housing
- RJ, Richard Jones, East Sussex CC
- RM, Rob Moore, Homes England
- RT, Ryan Trodden, MHCLG
- SH, Sean Havis, Barratt David Wilson Homes
- SL, Steven Lewis, Southern Water
- SR, Stacey Robins, Wealden DC
- TH, Tim Hardwicke, Stiles Harold Williams Partnership
Apologies
- AW, Alistair Wickens, Team East Sussex (TES)
- ES, Edward Sheath, East Sussex CC
- JB, Jonathan Buckwell, DHA Planning (CHAIR)
- MW, Max Woodford, Brighton and Hove City Council
- RC, Rupert Clubb, East Sussex CC
- SS, Sam Smith, Brighton and Hove City Council