D-day for big housing scheme planned for rural Hurstpierpoint

Parish councils for Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks are opposing the scheme on land north of 31, College Lane. There are 264 letters of objection, including one from the Hurstpierpoint Society, with one letter in support.

The site is outside the built-up area for Hurstpierpoint and is contrary to the parish council’s draft Neighbourhood Plan. Development would also erode the strategic gap between Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks.

District planning officers state in their report: “There would be material harm to the character of the area”, adding: “There is also insufficient information to demonstrate the site can be satisfactorily drained and that protected species will not be adversely impacted.”

Southern Water points out that capacity for foul sewerage disposal is inadequate, while the district council’s urban designer says “the quality of the design and layout is not of an acceptable standard”.

The District Planning Committee will discuss the scheme today (March 7) at 2pm in the council chamber at Oaklands, Haywards Heath.

Thakeham Homes Ltd wants to build 28 affordable homes as part of the development and Mid Sussex District Council’s housing officer acknowledges they would “meet a range of known housing needs”.

The site is 7.86 hectares in area and the scheme would be a mix of flats, bungalows and houses.

Despite concerns over coalescence, architects ‘Kent Design Partnership’, say the scheme would improve “the definition of the village envelope boundary”.