Daily Inquiry Information

Initial Sitting 15th Jan - 7th Feb 2008

7th February 2008

Third party representations were heard including 3 speakers on behalf of Downland Action Group, Mr Wallace, Mrs Reed and Mr Wade.

Evidence in Chief was given of Dr Wray (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North) by Mr White (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North).

6th February 2008

Continuation of cross-examination of Dr Roper (on behalf of Wealden District Council) by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands), followed by re-examination of Dr Roper by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council).

Summary of views from Professor Trevor Beebee (independent third party witness) to include a cross-examination by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) and any questions from the Inspector.

Dr Martin Steyning to take witness chair with Mr Robert Walton as his Advocate (from the Woodland Trust on behalf of Downland Action Group) for his examination in chief followed by cross-examination by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) and then re-examination by Mr Walton.

5th February 2008 - Re-convenes at Pilgrim Hall, Easons Green

Mr Duckett's (on behalf of Bowyer Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye South) Evidence in Chief by Mr Dove (on behalf of Bowyer Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye South) in relation to the Landscape topic.

Commencement of Ecology topic with Dr Roper's (on behalf of Wealden District Council) Evidence in Chief by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council), followed by cross-examination by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands).

31st January 2008

Continuation of cross-examination of Mr Russell-Vick (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) by Mr Dove (on behalf of Bowyer Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye South) in relation to the Landscape topic, followed by re-examination by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands).

Evidence in Chief by Mr Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North) of Mr Cooper (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North), to be followed by cross-examination by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council) and Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands).

30th January 2008

Cross examination of Mr Walker (on behalf of Wealden District Council) by Mr Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North) in relation to the Landscape topic. Now to take place on 31st January 2008.

This will be followed by cross-examination of Mr Russell-Vick (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council), followed by Mr Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North) and Mr Dove (on behalf of Bowyer Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye South).

29th January 2008

Cross-examination of Mr Walker (on behalf of Wealden District Council) by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) in relation to the Landscape topic, followed by Mr Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North).

Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) will give Evidence in Chief of Mr Russell-Vick, followed by cross examination by the other main parties.

25th January 2008

The Landscape topic has commenced. Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council) will continue with Evidence in Chief of Mr Walker (on behalf of Wealden District Council), who will then be cross examined by the other main parties.

24th January 2008

Cross-examination of Mr Tustain (of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council).

This will then be followed by the commencement of the Landscape topic. This is due to start with Evidence in Chief of Mr Walker (on behalf of Wealden District Council), who will then be cross-examined by Mr Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands) and Mr Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North). Next to give their Evidence in Chief will be Mr Russell-Vick.

23rd January 2008

Continuation of the cross-examination of Mr Woolf (land at Bird in Eye North) by Mr Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council) on the requirements side of Housing Land Supply Issues incorporating the Structure Plan and South East Plan.

This will be followed by Mr Tustain's Evidence in Chief by Mr Clay on Land Availability (Supply), and the cross-examination by Mr Boyle of Mr Tustain.

22nd January 2008

The Evidence in Chief with Mr Woolf by Mr Village took place, followed by the cross-examination by Mr Boyle of Mr Woolf.

Provisional Programme Timetable

At the Inquiry on 18th January the Inspector announced that following a revue of the Inquiry procedure by himself and the principal parties, it has been decided that the overall efficiency of the Inquiry timetable is best served by a topic based approach rather than a site-specific "mini-inquiry" approach. Therefore, the anticipated timetable is, at present, as follows:-

Completion of Housing Land Requirements Supply (to be completed on Tuesday 22nd January)
Landscape (Wednesday 23rd - Friday 25th January)
Ecology (week commencing 29th January)
Planning Policy
Highways and Transportation
3rd Party Representations (Thursday 7th February)
Conditions/Planning Obligations
Closing Submissions

22nd January 2008

Witness in relation to Housing Land Requirements Supply will be Mr Tustain (of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands).

23rd - 25th January 2008

The Landscape topic is to be considered and in relation to this the witnesses will be heard in the following order:

Mr Walker
Mr Russell-Vick
Mr Cooper
Mr Duckett

18th January 2008

Mr Peter Village (on behalf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye North) cross-examined of Mr Richard Walker (Wealden District Council).

The Inquiry will adjourned at 1pm.

It is anticipated that Mr Christopher Boyle (on behalf of Wealden District Council) will cross-examine Mr Richard Walker (Wealden District Council) when the Inquiry re-convenes on Tuesday 22nd January, continuing the section on Housing Land Supply.

17th January 2008

Mr Jonathan Clay (on behalf of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands Farm) continued the cross-examination of Mr Richard Walker (Wealden District Council), which lasted the majority of the day.

16th January 2008

Mr Jonathan Clay (on behalf of Downlands) commenced the cross-examination of Mr Richard Walker (Wealden District Council).

Already completed is the Cross Examination in Chief of Mr Richard Walker (Wealden District Council).

16th & 17th January 2008

The Inspector has indicated that Housing Land Supply and Affordable Housing Issues will be considered. Witnesses will be called in the following order:

Mr Walker on behalf of Wealden District Council

Mr Woolf of Woolf Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye (North)

Mr Tustain of Broadway Malyan in connection with Downlands Farm

Mr Grove of Bowyer Planning in connection with Land at Bird in Eye (South)

15th January 2008

Inquiry commences at 10:00am in The Weald Hall at Uckfield Civic Centre, Uckfield. Scheduled for the first day are the opening statements from all four parties. Opening statements can be viewed online.