The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #40

Most Of Sussex Is Countryside. But Who Speaks Up For It?

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Paul Steedman – CPRE Sussex

🔍 Episode summary

Chats about Sussex often jump straight to the coast, the cities, Gatwick, growth sectors or investment opportunities. But most of the county is not urban and not coastal. It is farmland, woodland, river systems, villages, protected landscapes and the spaces in between.

In this episode, Richard speaks with Paul Steedman from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) – Sussex Chapter, about why the countryside needs to be taken far more seriously in conversations about growth, devolution and the future shape of Sussex.

This is a good companion episode to our conversation with Jeremy Kerswell at Plumpton College about skills in the rural economy. Recorded at a moment when the region is being asked to think strategically about housing, transport, clean energy and economic growth, this discussion looks at what is at stake for rural Sussex and for the county as a whole.

Paul brings a long view to the conversation. CPRE has spent decades campaigning for the protection, regeneration and long-term future of the countryside. But this is not about saying no to change, rather than what kind of change Sussex needs, where it should happen, and who gets to shape it.

Together they explore the pressures facing the countryside, from housing and planning to food systems, transport, climate adaptation and energy infrastructure, and ask whether devolution could help Sussex think more clearly and more strategically about the relationship between its urban and rural futures.

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with Plumpton College.

Set in the heart of the South Downs, Plumpton College is one of the UK’s leading specialist colleges for agriculture, wine, animal management, environmental conservation and sustainable land use.

Celebrating 100 years this year, Plumpton continues to train the next generation of farmers, winemakers, conservationists and food producers who will help shape Sussex’s future. From world-class wine education to research in agri-tech, sustainable farming, enterprise and nature recovery, Plumpton combines practical learning with deep expertise.

In a county defined by its countryside, coast and land-based innovation, Plumpton remains one of Sussex’s most important institutions.

Find out more at plumpton.ac.uk

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🎯 In this episode

Why the Sussex countryside is too often overlooked in conversations about growth and devolution What CPRE Sussex is really trying to protect, and what it is not How planning policy is shaping pressure on green space and rural communities Why housing need and countryside protection do not have to be in conflict What devolution could mean for transport, energy and strategic planning in Sussex How rural voices could be lost in new governance structures unless they are built in properly Why food security, local supply chains and farming infrastructure matter more than ever What a Sussex mayor should understand about countryside, climate and land use Why public transport remains one of the biggest long-term issues for rural Sussex How the relationship between towns, cities and countryside could define Sussex’s future

🧠 Key themes

The countryside is not just a backdrop to Sussex life. It is central to the county’s economy, identity, health, food systems and environmental resilience.

Debates about growth in Sussex often lean too heavily towards urban development and headline housing numbers, without fully understanding the wider value of rural land and communities.

There is a strong case for better strategic planning across Sussex, particularly around transport, energy, housing and climate adaptation. Devolution could help with that, but only if environmental responsibilities are built in from the start.

The tension between local democracy and strategic governance is becoming sharper. Rural communities may benefit from joined-up decision-making, but they also risk becoming more remote from power.

Housing is part of the answer, but not in its current form. The discussion highlights the need for the right homes in the right places, including social rent, better options for downsizing, and development that is connected to transport and community need.

Food, farming and countryside infrastructure are too often treated as niche issues, when in reality they are part of Sussex’s long-term economic and social stability.

💬 What Paul says

“People have a deep love for the Sussex countryside.”

“The countryside is not just economics. It’s about health, wellbeing, and what makes Sussex an attractive place to be.”

“Growth, per se, is not necessarily a great outcome.”

“There’s been something missing for a good long while now, which is strategic level planning.”

“You can never do democracy on the cheap.”

“The housing we need is housing for social rent.”

“Rural Sussex bus networks and indeed restoring some train services would make a really big difference to people’s lives.”

🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Paul Steedman Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

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