Elderly care complex plan for South Chailey

A developer is making another attempt to gain planning approval for an elderly care complex at Gradwell End, South Chailey after a history of opposition and rejection.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Oct 2013, 07:24 BST
Exhibition of proposed Gradwell Park giant OAP home, South Chailey Village HallExhibition of proposed Gradwell Park giant OAP home, South Chailey Village Hall
Exhibition of proposed Gradwell Park giant OAP home, South Chailey Village Hall

A plan by Retirement Villages Ltd, comprising a six bed specialist nursing unit, 24 rooms for dementia patients, 30 nursing-home rooms and 55 care flats was rejected by Lewes District Council in June, 2012.

Now, the developer has submitted a scaled down version (LW/13/0620), comprising a 40 bed care home and 40 extra care apartments with associated support facilities and parking.

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The previous scheme was rejected by the district council and neighbouring parish councils because of potential traffic problems, its large scale, its position outside the planning envelope and its unsustainable position in a rural location with poor public transport links.

Residents, who set up a website (http://gradwellpark.info/) to oppose the original plan earmarked for greenfield land behind South Chailey doctors’ surgery, have vowed to fight on.

Adam Walker who lives in Mill Lane said: “The developer is still trying to get a substantial, inappropriate and speculative development approved. We’re getting into the realms of wasting the public purse because the developer just keeps re-submitting and the objections still stand.”

On their website, Retirement Villages state: “This new proposal represents a much more moderate scheme, scaled down by approximately 30 per cent from the previous application.”

The developer estimates that 69 jobs could be created by the scheme, which aims to cater for growing numbers of frail, elderly people.

Related topics:ResidentsLewes District Council