New moves to protect Crawley’s employment areas from housing are being made by Crawley Borough Council, following Government changes to permitted development rights.

Currently, Manor Royal, Lowfield Heath, Maidenbower Business Park, Three Bridges Corridor and Tilgate Forest Business Centre, office, light industrial and warehouse premises cannot be converted to housing without planning permission.

This comes, after the council and businesses voiced concerns that residential development in employment areas is having a negative impact on the operation of these areas and the supply of business land.

There were also questions about the quality of life for anyone living in these areas, which can be noisy, busy places that don’t have the supporting facilities

The council is inviting people to give their opinion between 26 July and 29 October.