Oldhouse Warren saved from Center Parcs development
By Jess Price, Conservation Officer
Center Parcs announced this morning (9 Feb 2023) that they are dropping plans to develop Oldhouse Warren, a precious ancient woodland near Crawley in West Sussex.
Their statement reads: 'As part of our usual pre-planning process, we have undertaken rigorous environmental and ecological site surveys and, having analysed all the detail from these surveys, we have concluded that the site at Oldhouse Warren is not a suitable location for a Center Parcs village.'
Sussex Wildlife Trust is thrilled that Center Parcs have done the right thing in realising that Oldhouse Warren is the wrong place for their next development.
Oldhouse Warren is an ancient woodland, an irreplaceable and highly protected habitat. It’s part of the medieval Worth Forest and has been a haven for wildlife for centuries, possible millennia.
We have worked hard with the Woodland Trust, CPRE Sussex, Sussex Ornithological Society, RSPB and local residents group Protect Oldhouse Warren to campaign against the proposal and convince Center Parcs of the devastating damage that a development of this scale would do to wildlife and people. Development here would make a mockery of the government’s commitments to address climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
We knew it was the wrong location from the start and have been expressing this to Center Parcs since they first announced their proposal back in 2021. We want to thank all of our members and supporters who contacted Center Parcs and campaigned against this proposal. Working together, we have saved a very special part of Sussex, which is home to rare breeding birds such as Marsh Tit, Goshawk and Firecrest and wonderful woodland flowers such as Ivy Leaved Bellflower and Bog Pimpernel.
Ultimately, Sussex Wildlife Trust commends the right decision being made by Center Parcs and continues to encourage them to seek an alternative, sustainable site that provides an opportunity to increase biodiversity, rather than destroy it.
Read our joint statement here: Sussex Planning for Nature 09 02 23
Comments
Such fantastic news that local activism ended Center Parcs’ bid to turn this ancient woodland into a revenue stream for company shareholders. I’ve been photographing the permissive access areas of Oldhouse Warren/Cowdray/Worth Forest since 2012 and would have been heartbroken to see the woodland fenced off and rented out by the rentier class for private profit. Oldhouse Warren is for everyone and everything. https://www.alanmackenziephotography.com/2018/03/the-hidden-life-of-sussex-woodland.html?m=1
09 Feb 2023 12:32:00
Brilliant news
09 Feb 2023 21:21:00
Amazing news!!!
14 Feb 2023 07:47:00
Absolutely Brilliant News!
Developers and Government often rely on apato to get their way. By writing to MPs, Leaders of Councils, the media etc we CAN stand up for Nature. Well done all involved.
16 Feb 2023 11:22:00
Excellent news; hopefully this will deter the owner for putting the site up for development in the future…
16 Feb 2023 11:23:00
Very good news for the benefit of all wildlife lovers.
16 Feb 2023 11:25:00
Great news! Well done Sussex Wildlife Trust, and thank you Centre Parcs for listening!
16 Feb 2023 11:44:00
Great news
16 Feb 2023 11:48:00
Excellent news. I hope this really is the end of any more applications for this sort of development
16 Feb 2023 11:51:00
So glad to see this success. I took part in the campaign your organised to raise objections. This kind of action is not always successful so it’s really encouraging to have This ‘win’.
16 Feb 2023 12:01:00
So relieved and gratefull
16 Feb 2023 12:28:00
What wonderful news! well done and congratulations to all those who have campaigned for this nature-friendly outcome.
16 Feb 2023 12:43:00
This is wonderful news! Well done & thank you for all your work, alongside others in campaigning against this – a great result ! :)
16 Feb 2023 13:26:00
Wonderful news
16 Feb 2023 13:50:00
Fabulous so pleased. This world can seem so negative, at present, and full of bad news. This decision is uplifting and wonderful. Made my day. Well done those involved
16 Feb 2023 13:51:00
Fantastic news! It’s so nice to hear a possible outcome to something like this for a change. Would it be possible for SWT to look to purchase the site to safeguard it long term? I’m sure many people would contribute to a crowdfunding bid.
16 Feb 2023 13:58:00
I live in Worth, and regularly Walks and Runs through Tilgate, Balcombe and Worth Forests. The forests are diverse and alive with Animals, rare ones such as Toads, Grass Snakes and Bats.
16 Feb 2023 14:03:00
It shows what well-informed, proactive, working together can achieve. Well done all.
16 Feb 2023 14:24:00
thanks for this xx
16 Feb 2023 14:33:00
I am so pleased to hear this truly positive news and that there are so many people who care about nature, our wildlife and its habitats.
16 Feb 2023 15:12:00
I was a reluctant pupil for two years at Milton Mount College, in the late 50’s! The only good thing going for the place in my mind was the camellia walk, the library and the grounds. We used to reach over the fence into Worth Park to talk to the Arab horses belonging to Lady Wentworth. In 1967 my husband and I left for Canada, and although I still live here, I miss the Weald where I grew up, and am sad to see grand buildings demolished. Congratulations on saving the Oldhouse Warren! Here, in Ontario, so much agricultural land has been raped, in the name of development, and politicians allowing them to have their way!, We are fortunate to live on 15 acres of unspoiled land , 1-1/2 hrs north-west of Toronto, where wild herbs grow, bald eagles and turkey vultures can still nest, a few wolves, coyotes, deer, skunks, porcupines, possums, groundhogs, chipmunks, frogs, toads and snapping turtles, amongst other wildlife still exist. I really enjoy your newsletters. Many thanks, carol
16 Feb 2023 16:09:00
Wonderful news and well done to all!
16 Feb 2023 17:31:00
Very good news,our Ancient Woodlands need to be protected
16 Feb 2023 18:16:00
This is wonderful news. The words ‘increase biodiversity’ struck me. If Center Parcs could make those words it’s motto.
16 Feb 2023 18:59:00
You did the right thing – well done and thank you.
16 Feb 2023 20:55:00
As the only living forest worker who was employed age 16 to help reinvigorate the woodlands at Oldhouse Warren I am thrilled that the decision not to proceed by Center Parcs has been made.
Although much of our planting back in the 60’s was conifer along with Chestnut and Beech the new woodlands we planted must certainly have led to the diversity of birdlife that now lives in the forest, at 81 I feel very proud to have been a part of what so many people have fought to save.
16 Feb 2023 22:05:00
Great to have some good news for nature. All efforts to be applauded.
16 Feb 2023 22:47:00
Fantastic news ! Thank you for your determined and expert campaign.
16 Feb 2023 23:37:00
Great news! If this site is so valuable, should it not be protected in some way? An SSSI or similar? The owner obviously wants to profit from it, whats to prevent the owner from finding someone else to develop it?
17 Feb 2023 07:19:00
Brilliant news, well done all
17 Feb 2023 08:20:00
Relieved and delighted that Oldhouse Warren has been saved. Everything must now be done to bring it under the protection of SWT and/or one of the other wildlife organisations so that it is saved forever.
17 Feb 2023 16:29:00
This is marvellous news.
Thanks to everyone involved in supporting conservation, and to Centre Parcs for deciding to protect Oldhouse Warren from development.
I hope this case will have raised public awareness of the enormous ecological value and scarcity of ancient woodlands, so that appreciation and appropriate management of these precious landscapes will increase throughout the UK.
17 Feb 2023 16:54:00
Brilliant news and well done for the SWT contribution to a successful combined campaign. What can be done to protect the site in the long term?
17 Feb 2023 18:25:00
Well done. Fantastic news.
17 Feb 2023 20:05:00
Really delighted to read this and know that for once, common sense has prevailed over ecological destruction for profit. The right decision made by Center Parcs, but well done to all who opposed the idea and saw it through to victory. We need more news like this!
18 Feb 2023 09:03:00
Well done all of you who worked so hard on this occasion. You have no idea how much your efforts re appreciated.
18 Feb 2023 12:12:00
Well done
I so rare to hear about success about people who fight for the environment
20 Feb 2023 18:23:00
Such an immense sense of relief and joy to hear this!
23 Feb 2023 20:24:00
This is great news. Someone has listened – nature and the environment has won, for a change!
I don’t understand why there are acres of old disused yards on the way into Portsmouth. They are the type of site that should be used, if any. Iconic wildlife sites must be protected; the biggest fight continues to be against this immoral, power obsessed government.
13 Jul 2023 10:36:00
Thank goodness that this special place has been saved – may many more development plans be squashed.
D. Hurry
13 Jul 2023 13:45:00
Well done to everyone who kept the fight going. You won
15 Jul 2023 09:04:00
Very pleased to hear that an area of ancient woodland is to be left intact. Nature is no doubt reeling from the destruction caused by HS2 so it’s good to hear that the company itself on this occasion, recognises the importance of maintaining such a valuable wildlife habitat.
17 Jul 2023 15:51:00