Major building plans for village

ETCHINGHAM residents are being urged to get involved in a public consultation over plans for a major development in the village.

Plans for the piece of land known locally as the Lambing Field will include a new primary school, including a nursery, a village hall and a mixed development of housing.

The plans, which are currently in the design stage, follow negotiations between East Sussex County Council (ESCC), the Diocese of Chichester and School Trustees, Etchingham Parish Council and the Etchingham Trust with the landowner, Dr Ahrens.

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The field has previously been identified for development in the Rother Local Development Framework.

The proposed school and village hall, which it is hoped will be open by September 2014, would be located in the front corner of the field immediately to the west of the village.

The scheme design will include pedestrian access to the High Street.

ESCC previously agreed to spend more than £5m to replace the village’s Victorian school buildings. The parish council will contribute to the replacement of the village hall.

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Cllr Nick Bennett, ESCC’s lead member for learning and school effectiveness said: “This is exciting news for the village and we have worked hard with our partners to make it happen. Much still needs to be done on the details of the scheme but design work is underway and the consultation with villagers will take place during the autumn, both before and during the formal planning application process.” Public exhibitions will take place at Etchingham School on October 17 between 2-6pm, and at the village hall on October 18 between 4-8pm.