Controversial Sedlescombe homes set for final go-ahead?

The proposal for 16 homes on Street Farm, off Brede Lane, was approved in October but it is being re-considered on Thursday, March 16, after a failed appeal to the secretary of state to get the decision reversed.

Sedlescombe’s neighbourhood plan, which is in contradiction to the scheme, has now reached a stronger stage but planning officers believe it is not enough to change their minds.

Meanwhile, four planning committee members are being investigated for code of conduct breaches after allegedly trying to influence the outcome of the Street Farm application.

MJH Homes wants to put 16 homes on the eastern side of the field, with a large space in the middle kept as open space and a small bit given to the primary school.

More than 200 people wrote letters objecting to it and the planning officers originally recommended refusal because of the almost-finished neighbourhood plan, which protected the field against development.

The planning committee decided to approve the scheme, despite the weight of opposition against it, because it satisfied housing needs.

Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was asked to inspect the decision in the hope it would be reversed, but it was unsuccessful.

“The secretary of state has carefully considered this case against call in policy and is content that it should be determined by the local planning authority,” a DCLG spokesman said

“The government is committed to giving more powers to councils and communities to make the decisions that effect them, and believes planning decisions should be made at a local level wherever possible.”

The final eight-week consultation on the neighbourhood plan ended on January 23, meaning the neighbourhood plan has more weight than previously, but officers do not believe it is enough to reverse the decision.

Four councillors are still being investigated after complaints about their conduct on the site visits and the declaration of interests at the October planning committee meeting.

Cllr Anthony Ganly, who represents Sedlescombe, claimed he had been subject to threats and intimidation during a phone call about the application before the meeting.

He said the call had prejudiced his judgement, as did Cllr Tom Graham who said he had comforted him afterwards.

However Cllrs Sue Prochak and Doug Oliver complained to the standards committee about the conduct of Cllrs Ganly, Graham, Maurice Watson and Mary Barnes, all of whom deny any wrongdoing.

A Rother spokesman said: “We have received complaints regarding member conduct on site visits and the declaration of interests at a recent planning committee meeting.

“These complaints are currently being investigated and the results of this will be announced in due course.”

Sedlescombe council outraged over ‘deplorable’ housing approval

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