Farmer Robert Worsley is passing up the chance to sell his farm for millions in order to save his neighbours from development.

Mr Worlsey said he will not ‘turn his back’ on his community and sell up despite the potential to make hundreds of millions of pounds as builders look to erect 10,000 new homes.

Robert Worsley, owner of the 550-acre Twineham Place Farm near Haywards Heath, stood to make £275 million by selling up to Mayfield Market Towns, but says he “could not do that.”

He told The Argus: “People are asking me why I would not want to sell, but that would be to clearly turn my back on all my friends, all these people who are affected, so I could not do that.

“It is not a simple case of selling a block of flats with them being knocked down and turned into a residential development – it would have far reaching implications.”

Mayfield Market Towns wants to build a fiercely opposed market town of around 10,000 new homes on an area of land between Sayers Common and Henfield.

Residents say the company’s representatives have been trying to buy options on their land, although it is believed only two residents have suggested they might sell.

Mr Worsley has not had a formal offer for his whole farm but says he was approached more than a year ago about selling options for a few acres and the company has since indicated it wants to develop on the whole farm.

The 48-year-old father, who has owned and run the arable farm for 15 years, said the government should give stronger powers to local authorities over planning and housing.

He added: “I don’t blame the developers – I blame the Government and I hate the hypocrisy of telling us we have got localism and then telling us that we can’t make the decision.

“The point I would also like to make is the fact that this is allowed to go on and on – I mean if a company is taking over another company, there is a limited time in which that company is allowed to make its bid and it has to be either accepted or withdrawn but this is open-ended.”

Neighbour Richard Watson said plans for housing should be left to councillors and local authorities had put forward their own plan to increase the supply.

BACKGROUND

Developers Mayfield Market Towns announced plans in May 2013 to build up to 10,000 homes on the land between Sayers Common and Henfield, sparking immediate opposition from residents.

In December 2013, Mid-Sussex MP Nicholas Soames told the Commons the plans would destroy “beautiful countryside and valuable agricultural land”.

No planning application has been made.

Mayfield Market Towns says the housing would meet a local shortage and would be better than add-on development.

A spokesman added: “We are keen to work with the local community to meet local housing needs in the area.”