Politics

Residents Question Council Redactions Over Planned L3Harris Move

By Martha Bolt

Campaigners and residents are demanding answers from Mid Sussex District Council as a dispute over an arms factory intensifies. The campaigners claim that references to US weapons maker L3Harris were "redacted from public planning objections." The dispute centres on Unit 3 at Panattoni Park in Goddards Green, where L3Harris is believed to be planning to move its Brighton operations.

Robert Darby, a Burgess Hill resident, said: "How can residents properly scrutinise a planning application when the council is removing references to the company believed to be moving in? If the council believes it has legal grounds to withhold this information, it needs to explain what those grounds are. References to national security without a clear explanation simply raise more questions than they answer."

A spokesperson from Mid Sussex District Council said that redactions are not "uncommon" in commercial applications. The spokesperson added: "The applications are in respect to minor physical works and no change to the lawful use of the building is being sought. Therefore, the end user is not a relevant material planning consideration."

L3Harris manufactures bomb‑release equipment used on F‑35 fighter jets and supplies weapons components to the US and Israeli military. Its Brighton factory has previously faced more than 20 years of protests and direct action. Campaigners say the dispute is about more than the arms trade, raising concerns over transparency and the public’s right to scrutinise planning decisions.

The first planning application was approved by council officers under delegated powers, despite calls for the planning committee to consider it because of strong public interest. A second application has yet to be decided.

The campaign group Burgess Hill Says No to L3Harris has also urged Panattoni, the park’s developer and landlord, not to lease Unit 3 to the company. The group says more than 12,500 letters have been sent to Panattoni directors and agents, while residents are urged to object to the applications and contact their councillors.

Laura Irvin, of Burgess Hill, said: "The council hollowed out Burgess Hill's town centre making it difficult for many shops, cafes, markets and cinemas to survive. Now, they want to move in an overseas billion‑dollar arms company. The people of Burgess Hill won't stand for it."

A Mid Sussex District Council spokesperson reiterated that the building’s alleged future occupant was not relevant to the planning decision at hand. The spokesperson said: "The potential end user of the unit was not identified in the applications referenced. This is not uncommon in commercial applications. Where representations made reference to an alleged end user these were redacted as they are not relevant to the planning application. The applications are in respect to minor physical works and no change to the lawful use of the building is being sought. Therefore, the end user is not a relevant material planning consideration."