08/04/2026
📢 Planning Appeal Update - We haven’t given up!
We wanted to let everyone know that the planning application for the proposed pre-school is now at the Appeal stage.
If you support the project and would like to share your views, you can submit a comment to the Planning Inspectorate using the link below. Every supportive comment helps demonstrate the level of community backing for providing much needed early years childcare in Crawley Down.
📝 Submit your comments here:
https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6005539
⏰ Deadline: Monday 13th April
💚 A huge Thank you to everyone who has supported the project so far, it really does make a difference.
Mid Sussex District Council Worth Parish Council Mims Davies MP SussexWorld Crawley Down Village Forum Crawley Down Village Turners Hill Village West Sussex County Council Mid Sussex Times Middy
15/09/2025
💔 With a very heavy heart, we want to share that our proposal for a new Pre School in Crawley Down was refused at the Mid Sussex Council planning committee last Thursday.
Despite all the time, thought and care we put into the design, layout and materials of our proposal and the clear need for childcare in our community, councillors voted against it.
We are deeply grateful to Cllr Ian Gibson and Cllr Paul Kenny, who spoke passionately in support of our proposal, recognising the benefits it would bring to local families. 🙏
To everyone who has stood beside us on this journey, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ❤️
We will be appealing this decision, though the process will be lengthy.
In the meantime, we feel devastated for the many families who had already registered interest and now face even fewer childcare options in our area.
We have lodged a formal complaint regarding how our application was handled and will continue to fight for the children and families of Crawley Down and Turners Hill.
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/council/formal-complaint-lodged-after-planning-committee-refused-plans-to-build-a-pre-school-in-mid-sussex-village-5318489
Mid Sussex District Council Worth Parish Council SussexWorld Mims Davies MP Squires Planning Crawley Down Village Forum Crawley Down Village Turners Hill Village West Sussex County Council
07/09/2025
📣 URGENT – We Need Your Support!
This Thursday 11th September at 4pm, our planning application will be determined at the Mid Sussex District Planning Committee.
Despite huge community backing, and after working closely with local authorities and third party experts, it has been wrongfully recommended for refusal.
✅ We already have planning permission granted for the structure of the building in the same location, with the same external design, within the countryside and same distance from listed buildings.
⚠️ The only additions are:
• Permanent use of the temporary entrance next door to the main objectors property.
• A new access road & parking, designed using grasscrete paving so it will remain looking green like a field and be more ecological than tarmac.
• Installation of expensive acoustic fencing to protect not just the children, but also to give our neighbours greater privacy, reducing noise from both the road and the very small children.
• Creation of play areas and wildlife gardens to the rear, including a tipi for outdoor quiet reading.
This project is clearly needed and wanted by residents in Crawley Down and surrounding villages, yet we are being forced to fight for it.
🙌 How you can help:
Join us at the Committee Meeting:
📍 Mid Sussex Council Offices, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS
🕞 Arrive at 3:30pm (meeting starts at 4pm)
Reserve a seat in the gallery by emailing: [email protected]
Or show your support peacefully outside the Council Offices.
If you can’t attend? Please email ALL councillors listed below (not just one!) to make your voice/opinion heard before the meeting.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
This facility is for our children, mums, dads, grandparents, and the whole community. Let’s stand together and show councillors just how much this means to Crawley Down. 💪🏻
We will not give up and if necessary, we will take this to appeal.
🙏 Thank you all for the incredibleMid Sussex District CouncilWorth Parish CouncilTurners Hill VillageCrawley Down Village ForumSquires PlanningMims Davies MPSussexWorldWest Sussex County CouncilJPIMediaMid Sussex Times MiddyWest Hoathly Parish CouncilStephen Morgan MPilStephen Morgan MP
06/09/2025
Please share 🙏
📣 URGENT – We Need Your Support!
Thursday 11th September at 4pm, our planning application will be determined at the Mid Sussex District Planning Committee.
Despite huge community backing, and after working closely with local authorities and third party experts, it has been wrongfully recommended for refusal.
✅ We already have planning permission granted for the structure of the building in the same location, with the same external design, within the countryside and same distance from listed buildings.
⚠️ The only additions are:
• Permanent use of the temporary entrance next door to the main objectors property.
• A new access road & parking, designed using grasscrete paving so it will remain looking green like a field and be more ecological than tarmac.
• Installation of expensive acoustic fencing to protect not just the children, but also to give our neighbours greater privacy, reducing noise from both the road and the very small children.
• Creation of play areas and wildlife gardens to the rear, including a tipi for outdoor quiet reading.
This project is clearly needed and wanted by residents in Crawley Down and surrounding villages, yet we are being forced to fight for it.
🙌 How you can help:
Join us at the Committee Meeting:
📍 Mid Sussex Council Offices, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS
🕞 Arrive at 3:30pm (meeting starts at 4pm)
Reserve a seat in the gallery by emailing: [email protected]
Or show your support peacefully outside the Council Offices.
If you can’t attend? Please email ALL councillors listed below (not just one!) to make your voice/opinion heard before the meeting.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
This facility is for our children, mums, dads, grandparents, and the whole community. Let’s stand together and show councillors just how much this means to Crawley Down. 💪🏻
We will not give up and if necessary, we will take this to appeal.
🙏 Thank you all for the incredible support so far.
Mid Sussex District Council Worth Parish Council Turners Hill Village Crawley Down Village Forum Squires Planning Mims Davies MP SussexWorld West Sussex County Council JPIMedia Mid Sussex Times Middy West Hoathly Parish Council Stephen Morgan MP
30/08/2025
🌿 Planning Update - Wild Beginnings Pre-School 🌿
We wanted to keep you all updated on our planning application for the new Wild Beginnings pre-school.
Our application is due to be reviewed at the planning committee meeting on 11th September. Unfortunately, despite all the work we have done with both Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council to address concerns and make sure our proposal is robust, safe, and a real benefit to the community, the council's Planning Officer is still recommending refusal.
We are, of course, disappointed with this recommendation. We have worked hard to demonstrate that Wild Beginnings would be a safe, sustainable and unique setting, meeting a clear local need.
We are extremely grateful to Worth Parish Council, who have supported our application and recognised the importance of such a facility for local families.
We hope that our local Councillors will support the application at committee. If the outcome at committee is refusal, we want to assure you that we will without fail appeal that decision. We firmly believe this project would be a huge benefit to our village and the surrounding villages, and we are committed to continuing this journey.
The full officer’s report will be published shortly within the committee agenda, and we’ll share it when we have it.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support us, your encouragement really matters as we take this next step 💚
https://padocs.midsussex.gov.uk/PublicAccess_Live/SearchResult/RunThirdPartySearch?FileSystemId=DM&FOLDER1_REF=DM/24/2401
Mid Sussex District Council Worth Parish Council Turners Hill Village Mims Davies MP Stephen Morgan MP West Sussex County Council Squires Planning JPIMedia SussexWorld Mid Sussex Times Middy Crawley Down Village West Hoathly Parish Council
22/07/2025
🌿 Planning Update – Wild Beginnings Pre-School 🌿
We’re pleased to share that our updated planning application is now live and open for consultation until 13th August. As part of our revised proposal, we’ve included a new Travel Plan, which now features an electric minibus service to offer a convenient pick-up and drop-off option for families using our proposed Wild Beginnings Pre-School.
This addition is part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and supporting local families.
With the recent approval of 350 new homes at Huntsland, just 400 metres from our proposed site, the need for early years education in the area has never been more urgent. We believe Wild Beginnings will play a vital role in meeting this growing demand.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already enquired and added their child to our waiting list. Your support means the world to us, and we remain hopeful that we’ll soon be able to bring this much-needed setting to life for our community.
📅 Don’t forget: the consultation runs until 13th August. Your continued support and engagement during this time is invaluable. Please use the link below to support our application.
https://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=SKQJJ5KT04L00
Mims Davies MP Mid Sussex District Council Crawley Down Village Worth Parish Council
22/07/2025