Sussex deserves better - ask the new mayor to champion our countryside!
Candidates for the Sussex Mayor
In May 2026, Sussex will elect its first-ever directly elected mayor. This mayor will lead a Mayoral Combined County Authority covering the whole of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove to make strategic decisions on transport, housing, economic growth, public health, climate, and policing.
This is a historic opportunity to shape the future of Sussex — but only if the mayor listens to the people and protects what makes our region special.
Sussex is defined by its countryside — from the rolling South Downs to ancient woodlands, winding rivers, and patchwork fields. These landscapes are not just beautiful; they are vital to our economy, our wellbeing, and our identity.
But right now, our countryside is under threat.
Government housing targets, weakened planning protections, and damaging infrastructure decisions are putting developer profits ahead of local needs. Green fields are being lost to car-dependent sprawl while brownfield sites sit unused. Rivers are polluted, farmland birds are vanishing, and rural communities feel ignored.
With the mayoral election approaching, we must act. Please help us stand up for the countryside and fight for nature's frontline.
Sign this petition to demand that our next mayor makes this pledge — for Sussex, for nature, and for future generations.
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To:
Candidates for the Sussex Mayor
From:
[Your Name]
To Sussex Mayoral Candidate,
We, the undersigned, call on you to pledge your support for the countryside and commit to the following:
Brownfield first – Prioritise the more than 1,200 acres of brownfield land in Sussex for new development. Make sure existing planning permissions are built. Push back against the government’s absurd and damaging housing targets.
Homes that serve people, not profits – Support councils, housing associations and community land trusts to deliver genuinely affordable homes, especially for social rent. Press government to reform broken "viability" rules that let developers sidestep their duties.
Defend what makes Sussex unique – Protect and properly resource the South Downs National Park, the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes, and develop new protections for the Low Weald.
Back the rural economy – Treat the countryside as core to our economic future, reject the rhetoric of “nature vs Growth”. Report annually on its contribution to health, jobs, climate resilience and biodiversity – and make sure it features in every major decision.
Give rural communities a voice – Appoint a Commissioner for Rural Sussex. Visit a rural area every week. Put town and parish councils at the table, not on the sidelines.
Clean up rivers, support nature-friendly farming – Hold water companies accountable for sewage pollution. Press government for real support for farmers who protect wildlife and produce local food sustainably.
Lead on climate – Set up a Sussex Climate Commission. Launch a major retrofit programme for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps. Invest in walking, cycling, public transport – not road expansion or airport growth.
Yours faithfully,
CPRE Sussex and petition signatories