Andrew WilsonConservative Councillor for Crowborough South East

Issue

Planning and Housebuilding

Scrutiny of local planning decisions affecting Crowborough South East, including AONB and greenfield development concerns.

This page collects Andrew’s planning and housebuilding work — committee votes, Local Plan and NPPF analysis, and decisions affecting the High Weald and the wider district — as published in the posts below, from his early explainer on how Wealden planning actually works through to the current debate over who decides what gets built.

The published record

7 posts on this issue, newest first.

Diary of a Councillor

Who Should Decide What Gets Built in Wealden?

Andrew's response to Labour's planning committee reforms, which he argues shift decision-making away from elected councillors and towards officers.

Diary of a Councillor

Power grab or planning reform? The troubling motives behind Wealden District Council's Alliance led planning committee changes

Opinion piece on Wealden's reduction of planning committee size from 12 to 9 members, and its effect on opposition representation and scrutiny.

Wealden News

Ancient woodland saved temporarily from development after landmark ruling

Wealden District Council successfully challenged a planning appeal in the High Court, protecting ancient woodland at Wellshurst Golf and Country Club.

Wealden News

Wealden concerned about implications of new national planning policy framework.

Wealden District Council welcomes NPPF changes on climate mitigation but is concerned the top-down housing target for the district has increased again.

Diary of a Councillor

A planning meeting featuring the AONB

Andrew's account of a Planning Committee North vote to approve 15 houses in the High Weald AONB, and why he argued the application should have been refused.

Diary of a Councillor

Labour government - Wealden and houses

Andrew's analysis of Labour's revised NPPF housing targets for Wealden, and questions over the Alliance leadership's response to Government.

Diary of a Councillor

Planning, bricks and mortar

Andrew's early explainer on how Wealden's planning system actually works — housing targets, the Local Plan, and the NPPF's 'tilted balance'.

Evidence or experience to share on this issue?

Documents, photos, or first-hand accounts all help scrutiny — sent privately, read by Andrew.

Share evidence