Active Campaign
Infrastructure Before Concrete
This page follows Sussex First's case that roads, school places, healthcare capacity, and fully funded infrastructure must be secured before large-scale building approvals move forward.
When development is approved without guaranteed delivery, existing residents are left carrying the cost through worsening congestion, overstretched public services, and another cycle of promises that never materialise where they are needed most.
The sequence matters.
Our campaign position is simple: infrastructure commitments must be real, funded, and secured or delivered before more concrete is approved. Roads, schools, health services, drainage, and local transport cannot remain theoretical promises while new phases move ahead. Development should follow proven readiness, not hopeful paperwork.
Why This Matters
Village roads and lanes are already under pressure, and unmanaged growth worsens daily movement for residents.
Core services are overstretched when delivery lags, leaving families chasing school places, appointments, and basic access.
Trust in the planning process depends on visible sequencing: promises first, permissions second.
Campaign Video - A29 Bypass White Elephant
A29 Bypass
We recently called out the A29 bypass scheme which was intended to run from the A27 down to Bognor Regis, alleviating the horrendous traffic that is overwhelming our villages through constant development. Sounds great doesn't it?. While promising residents a permanent solution the trade off is up to 4500 new homes across the area, with the bypass to be built in 3 stages. Unfortunately, phase 3 of the project remains unfunded, and in our view, may never be built - meaning we get the houses but we don't get the bypass.
What This Campaign Is Following
Whether promised link-road works are funded, scheduled, and publicly accountable.
School-place pressure and whether education capacity is delivered ahead of housing phases.
GP and primary care capacity, including realistic access for existing and incoming residents.
The sequencing of development approvals against actual infrastructure completion on the ground.
Local accountability: who committed what, by when, and whether delivery matches those commitments.
Got an Issue in Your Area?
If something in your area needs attention, please get in touch with us directly. We will continue publishing updates, campaign briefings, evidence, and despatches on this page.