Neighbourhood planning allows local people under the Government’s Localism Bill 2011 to develop a statutory plan which will help determine the future of the area and must be used in assessing planning applications in the area over the next 20 years. Chairman of the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan team Nigel Page said: “This is a remarkable achievement and reflects the incredible amount of hard work our volunteers have provided. I am particularly pleased to see the examiner recognised the vision for the village and the quality of the community engagement, which allowed us to develop the plan based on the input of the local community.” The full examiner’s report can be read at www.cuckfieldplan.com. “This is a truly local plan written by local people, with a wide ranging vision,” the chairman added. The key themes and policies for the plan aim to identify sites which will bring forward new market housing and affordable homes. The aim to is to ensure Cuckfield retains its distinctive character and setting protect the village centres of Cuckfield and Whitemans Green, provide identified infrastructure and allow expansion for both schools, whilst taking into account the environment and ecology, ensure the health and well-being of residents and seek to allocate and protect open space, community buildings and essential services. The referendum will be held late June-early July 2014. For more on this story and the fate of the Cuckfield Play Meadow, see tomorrow’s Mid Sussex Times (May 1).