More than a third of Sussex’s countryside will be at greater risk of urban sprawl under proposed changes to the planning system, rural advocates claim.
Twenty-two percent of East Sussex and 13% of West Sussex will be at risk of urban development, The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said.
Previously Government planning policy has recognised undesignated areas of land. But the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is due to be finalised shortly, does not.
Arun villages and towns north of Bognor are at risk, including Yapton, Shripney Flansham, Nyetimber, Mundham, Walberton.
Around Chichester, villages and towns including Tangmere, Oving, Hunston and Birdham are at risk.
The Crawley area is largely safe, although Faygate includes some at risk areas.
Horsham areas at risk include Billingshurst and surrounding villages, including Dial Post, Partridge Green, Barns Green and Bucks Green.
Large areas of Mid Sussex are deemed Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are as such safe. But an area close to Wivelsfield, near Burgess Hill, is at risk.
The Worthing and Adur areas are also largely safe, although Sompting has some areas at risk.
In East Sussex areas at risk include significant sections of Lewes district, including Chailey, Plumpton Green, Framfield, Uckfield and Barcombe.
Sections to the north of Eastbourne district are at risk and large parts of Rother and Wealden are protected because they are Areas of Natural Beauty.
Brighton and Hove is either urban or South Downs National Park and most of Hastings is safe as it is urban The South Downs National Park is not at risk.
CPRE head of planning Fiona Howie said: “Ministers have provided no reassurance that the final NPPF will recognise the value of the wider, undesignated countryside that makes up more than half of England’s rural landscape.
“We are not seeking a national policy that would prevent all development. But if we are to avoid damaging the character of rural areas by making it easier for inappropriate, speculative building to take place decision-makers must be encouraged to take account of the intrinsic value of the wider countryside.”
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