Proposals for a major housing development on the outskirts of Bexhill are due to go back in front of Rother councillors.

On Thursday (July 30), Rother District Council’s planning committee is due to consider an application seeking outline permission to build up to 340 homes on land to the north of the Rosewood Park Estate.

The scheme, from Gladman Developments Limited, was approved in principle in June last year, subject to conditions and the signing of a section 106 legal agreement.

It is being brought back as a result of a change to the terms of the legal agreement.

A plan showing the development on land to the north of the Rosewood Park Estate, Bexhill. Image: Gladman Developments Limited

placeholder image — A plan showing the development on land to the north of the Rosewood Park Estate, Bexhill. Image: Gladman Developments Limited

When the committee resolved to grant permission last year, it did so on the basis that the developer would be required to provide funding for flexibus services.

The funding requirement had been based on advice from East Sussex County Council Highways which said the developer would need to provide an annual payment of £115,000 for six years totalling £690,000).

However, East Sussex Highways said the payment would only be required if the scheme came in isolation to another nearby development at Fryatts Way.

As the Fryatts Way scheme has now commenced and is providing flexibus funding, the full level of funding is no longer justified.

Instead, the developer will only be expected to provide a one-off payment of £1,430 per dwelling. This would equate to £486,200 if all 340 homes are built.

As there is a change to the level of financial contribution the change to the legal agreement needs to be agreed by the committee.

When last considered, the scheme attracted a significant number of objections, mainly about access and its impact on highways infrastructure, particularly at the junction of Brooklands Road and Barnhorn Road.

Officers had warned that any refusal on highways grounds would be unlikely to succeed at appeal and could even result in costs being awarded against the council.

This was because both East Sussex Highways and National Highways had considered the scheme acceptable subject to conditions. These included the flexibus funding.