The Village Council receives notification of all planning applications and makes a recommendation to MSDC as to how it considers applications should be decided. The recommendation is based on the Village Council's local knowledge and perspective and on material planning considerations.

The Village Council holds regular Planning Committee meetings to consider planning applications sent to it by MSDC. Applicants and objectors are always welcome to attend the Committee meetings and make representations during the period set aside for public participation at the start of the meeting. Members of the public are welcome to stay and observe the Council's deliberations, but may not take part in them.

Representations about any planning application may be made at Planning Committee meetings or by letter or email to the Village Council or Mid Sussex District Council. Please note that correspondence must include a name and address as anonymous letters cannot be considered.

The Planning Committee takes account of all representations made, but must base its recommendation on relevant planning considerations. Inevitably there will be occasions when applicants or objectors disagree with the Committee's recommendations. MSDC does not always follow the Village Council's recommendation.

It is important that Councillors do not predetermine any application before they have had the chance to see all the application documents and before they have discussed the issues at a Planning Committee meeting. Until then, they can discuss the matter in general terms and comment on any potential relevant issues, but must be seen to approach the deliberations at the Committee with an open mind. Councillors who have expressed a firm view one way or the other before the Committee meeting might have to declare an interest and not take part in the meeting, although they could still send their own individual representations to MSDC.

Mid Sussex District Council produce a weekly list of Planning Applications received.

Members of the Village Council are not professional planners, but are occasionally asked to discuss informally a proposed or submitted application, or an objection to an application. In such cases, it is always made clear that, while Councillors are happy to listen to what the person has to say and will point out any issues they consider might be relevant, they cannot and will not discuss the merits or otherwise of the matter until the Council's Planning Committee meeting.