Government takes further step towards granting itself planning permission for use of Crowborough site
Publish Date: 21 January 2026
The Home Office is trying to avoid applying for planning permission to change the use of Crowborough Army Camp site by relying on what are known as on Permitted Development Rights, class Q.
These development rights require the Home Office to have a direction from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in consultation with Natural England that a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not needed.
The direction has now been completed but highlights a range of issues and inconsistencies with what the Home Office has told Wealden District Council and others previously. The EIA screening confirms that the Home Office said it would consult with the council and the police and not just “engage”.
Councillor James Partridge, leader of the council said, “Whilst Wealden welcomes the Home Office’s stated intention to consult on its plans, we are concerned that there are inconsistencies in the detail of the assessment and we are writing to the Home Office Minster about them.
“Planning law exists to protect people and places. It says that changes to the use of land and buildings must be properly assessed for their impact on landscapes, noise, safety, traffic and the environment, and that communities should have a voice in decisions that affect them. No organisation, however large, can bypass proper scrutiny when communities are affected and we will continue to push for the Home Office to comply with the law on this.”
To view the most recent communications between the Home Office and the council, click here.