Homes England have published a response to public comments regarding jobs for the massive West of Ifield development. The details can be seen here: HE_jobs

There are no specific commitments, particularly to the number of jobs to be provided. If there are not more jobs than people of working age in the new development then there will tend to be an impact on the availability of jobs and the salary/wages in the whole area which would impact on Crawley people.

And there is no reference to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the labour market where we are already expecting to see high numbers of unemployed people in the next weeks, months and years. In fact the numbers of people claiming Universal Credit in Crawley has already shot up and we expect it to continue to increase.

Cllr Jilly Hart – jilly.hart@crawley.gov.uk

Cllr Peter Smith – peter.smith@crawley.gov.uk

Cllr Chris Oxlade – chris.oxlade@westsussex.gov.uk

Cllr Brenda Smith – brenda.smith@westsussex.gov.uk

Note: we are keeping off-line copies of Homes England statements. If any resident wants to have access to them please get in touch.