Eton College plan for 3,000 homes near Queen's idyllic village leaves locals fuming

FEARS FOR SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE

- BY GILES SHELDRICK Chief Reporter

ETON College's plans to build 3,000 new homes in the Queen's backyard have left locals "royally annoyed".

The world’s most exclusive boarding school owns a swathe of prime Sussex countryside close to the chocolate-box village where Camilla spent a “perfect” childhood.

Locals fear £63,000-a-year Eton — where Princes William and Harry were educated — wants to carve up ancient countryside to bank millions.

The college plans to create a new town near rural Plumpton Green - population 1,500 — on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

New details of the “unforgivable” scheme have enraged locals, who say it has no merit and is all about profit.

Lewes MP James MacCleary said: “Any development would urbanise a unique part of the South Downs, fundamentally changing the nature of where Queen Camilla grew up.

“You can’t just vandalise the countryside, because you can’t get it back. They are determined to build this thing, and there is clearly a lot of money and vested interests behind it. I’m genuinely worried.”

Locals are doubly fearful as Labour insists it will build 1.5 million new homes in England over the course of this Parliament.

Ancient

The sleepy village has historically swung between Tory and Lib Dem.

Labour Housing Secretary Steve Reed can approve developments of 150 homes or more using “call-in” powers to override local councils.