Dozens of homes could be built on a greenfield site.

Taylor Wimpey has applied to construct 40 homes on the land north of Butlers Green Road, in Haywards Heath.

Developers state it will provide affordable housing to meet demand set out by Mid Sussex District Council.

But neighbours are concerned about the impact it could have adding the site partly falls within the Lucastes Conservation Area.

Representatives from Woolf Bond Planning, which is dealing with the plans on behalf of the builders, have met members of both Mid Sussex District and West Sussex County Councils about the proposals.

It includes new vehicle and pedestrian access, car parking, and landscaped open space.

If approved developers would only receive outline permission and would still need to agree how the site would look.

Some residents claim by accepting the application “the council will be making a public declaration that the established land gap between Haywards Heath and Cuckfield is available for housing development”.

The local authority expects to make a decision on the plans by in the coming months.