South Thames – October Update

Our South Thames Region is based at our Guildford office and covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The team is headed by Mark Walker and Nick Wood-Dow. See further details and contacts on our South Thames Region page.

Sussex

Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) 

On the 17 September, BHCC held a cabinet meeting where an Annual Report on Housing in Brighton and Hove was discussed. There was also a discussion on a Report on Raising Professional Standards for Housing Staff and Tenants. A decision to go ahead with a new so-called “red route” along Western Road in the centre of the city was made. This last decision has proved to be controversial, upsetting many local traders and business people, with the leadership at BHCC failing to provide adequate rationale and evidence for the scheme. On the 30 September it was reported that the proposed “red route” had been “called in” by opposition councillors at BHCC who want the issue to be debated by the full council or sent back to the council’s cabinet for a rethink. The call-in request was made by Conservative councillor and group leader, Cllr Alistair McNair, and co-signed by 15 BHCC councillors including fellow Tories as well as the Greens, a Brighton and Hove Independent and an Independent councillor.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Lewes District Council (LDC)

On the 29 September, it was reported that the minority Reform UK led ESCC cabinet had invited the authority’s scrutiny committees to consider the Reform UK administration’s draft climate strategy. The policy “resets” existing climate commitments and “prioritises severe weather preparedness” over cutting emissions. ESCC leader, Cllr Andy Woolley, said a change of priority was needed as the cost pressures of statutory services had “intensified”, but the Green Party called it a “dereliction of duty”. Woolley told the cabinet meeting he “could have taken this straight to council for a vote in a few weeks time” but instead wanted to hear the committee’s views first. Officers have written in the climate strategy that the proposed way forward would represent “a substantive change” of the council’s position if adopted. This news comes as, nationally, Reform UK have dipped in the polls but are expected to make gains again as the new prime minister, Andy Burnham MP, opens up the debate again about the UK’s future in Europe and the European Union.

Following this development, Cllr Kathryn Field, leader of ESCC’s Liberal Democrats, said the authority should “be working incredibly hard to reduce” carbon emissions, which would in turn lead to climate resilience. Green Party’s Cllr Christina Coleman said: “The future is not looking good, so to renounce the idea of this not being an emergency and to pretend it is not happening is a dereliction of duty”. ESCC adopted the net-zero target in 2019, when councillors voted in favour of a motion declaring a climate emergency. Conservative group leader Cllr Paul Redstone said on Tuesday that net-zero was an idea he would “support if it was possible” but that it “isn’t affordable”.

On the 1 October it was announced by LDC that long-awaited plans to redevelop the Meridian Centre site in Peacehaven, where a former Co-Op was located, are due to go before councillors on the 7 October. LDC’s Planning Applications Committee is expected to decide whether Morrisons can demolish the existing centre and replace it with a supermarket at a meeting in Newhaven. The proposals are a revised version of stalled plans which were approved by LDC councillors in 2023.

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Arun District Council (ADC)

On the 21 September, it was reported that plans to allow up to 20 new homes at a Barnham development to be occupied by residents before a railway crossing is secured have been refused. The proposal relates to the 200 home Barratt Homes development at Tars Farm, located south of Barnham Station. A current planning condition for the application states that the development cannot be occupied until a railway crossing order has been made and confirmed. It requires the existing public footpath to be legally diverted or removed, with a new footbridge to provide a safe alternative route over the railway lines. The application proposed to amend the condition so that it allowed for no more than 20 homes to be occupied before any such rail crossing order had been confirmed. This proposal is almost identical to one put forward in May this year which looked to amend the condition by 10 houses not 20. However, ADC planning officers say there is still not enough evidence that the planned footbridge can be delivered within the required timeframe.

Chichester District Council (CDC) and Horsham District Council (HDC)

CDC full council met on 22 September, with the agenda here. After the meeting on the 24 September it was reported that a range of support aimed at helping residents to access safe and suitable housing in the Chichester is being funded by the council. During 2025, CDC councillors approved a budget of £1million to support the council’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025–2030. At meeting on 22 September, councillors agreed how the majority of this funding should be allocated to help respond to rising levels of homelessness, improve outcomes for residents, and manage the growing costs associated with temporary accommodation.

Surrey

Surrey County Council (SCC)

On the 14 September, SCC reported on their website that plans for East Surrey Council were on schedule, with the East Surrey Shadow Executive meeting on 14 September in order to continue preparations for the launch of the new authority on the 1 April 2027. At the meeting, councillors reviewed progress on the implementation of local government reorganisation and considered a number of decisions that will help ensure services continue smoothly from ‘vesting day’ onwards. These decisions included approving Woodhatch Place in Reigate as East Surrey Council’s main office from the 1 April 2027. It can be said that this short-term arrangement provides a practical and cost-effective base for the new authority, ensuring it can operate safely and lawfully from day one while longer-term property plans are developed.

At this meeting, councillors also backed proposals for East Surrey and West Surrey to work together on strategic county-wide issues through a proposed Foundational Strategic Authority. In their discussions, members recognised the potential benefits of this arrangement for transport, housing, economic growth and local funding, while also calling for further details from the UK Government on matters including any future visitor levy (tourist tax) and Surrey’s devolution arrangements.

Kent

Kent County Council (KCC) and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC)

On the 20 September, it was reported that plans for 125 homes to be built by Dandara South East on 53 acres of fields in Tunbridge Wells were approved. This decision came despite concerns by local councillors and residents about road safety issues. Dandara can build the new estate on crop-growing farmland it calls Spratsbrook Farm, but which nearby Frant Parish Council in East Sussex and neighbours say is Ramslye Farm. TWBC’s planning committee approved the plans on the 16 September after Dandara said it had addressed feedback including from KCC and other third parties on highways matters.

Berkshire

Reading Borough Council (RBC)

On the 9^h September, it was reported that Peveril Securities, a company that saw a bid to build 570 flats in four large apartment blocks on the site of vacant offices rejected at planning committee, has appealed to have that decision overturned. The company proposed building the 11-storey blocks on Napier Court in Reading, currently used for three two-storey offices that have been vacant since the summer, 2025. RBC rejected the project this April on multiple grounds, including a lack of affordable housing a lack of “appropriate provision” for open space. However, Peveril Securities has applied to the Planning Inspectorate to get planning permission despite the council’s concerns.

On the 2 October, RBC’s website reported that a new Berkshire Prosperity Board website had been launched. Berkshire residents, businesses and other key stakeholders will now be able to follow and engage with the work of the Prosperity Board which brings together six councils in Berkshire in order to deliver projects such as the Berkshire Electric Vehicle Programme, the Berkshire Local Natural Recovery Strategy, as well as local business support sessions.

Hampshire

Hampshire County Council (HCC)

On the 2 October, it was reported that HCC had warned that new government planning reforms would “destroy” local democracy. The changes mean that HCC’s regulatory committee will shrink from 16 councillors to 13 under new national planning legislation. At full council on the 1 October, members criticised the reform, arguing it would weaken local accountability and the link between communities and decision makers.