St Leonards residents oppose proposals for up to 300 homes next to nature reserve
St Leonards residents have voiced objections to the potential building of hundreds of new houses in their neighbourhood.
The 12.03-hectare site is adjacent to Breadsell Lane, bordering the Rother district.
The Hastings Borough Council's Local Plan establishes the strategic planning framework for the borough until 2041, including policies and site allocations to address housing, employment, infrastructure, climate change, environmental protection and regeneration needs.
A draft version of the town's 2041 Local Plan, published on the council's website ahead of a cabinet meeting on September 7, shows the site allocated as an area of 'Development Potential' for a possible 200 to 300 homes.
It refers to the open meadows and fields running along Breadsell Lane, comprising Breadsell Farm next to the woods and Marline Valley Nature Reserve.
Resident Katie Rogers said: “I do understand that housing demand, not just in the Hastings and Rother areas, but across the south east is incredibly high. However, I disagree that the answer is to throw up more housing developments. We cannot afford to continue to build onto valued greenspace, and protected woodlands and habitats.
“These habitats and greenspaces are ever-shrinking islands for important species from warblers and kites to owls, woodpeckers, dragonflies, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and a host of insects - such as beetles, bees and other invertebrates - regularly seen in our gardens and surrounding woodland and farmland.
“There are also abundant flora such as bluebells in spring time and rare and important fungi growing across the woodland. What we build upon we lose forever.
“And what do we get in return? Residents of Hastings are already at or bursting point with public and essential services already beyond critical failure points. We can't even afford to fix our dilapidated roads. Adding further housing developments to the area without building and improving essential infrastructure beforehand, is not just stupid, it's dangerously irresponsible.”
Jill Thornton said: “We live in a beautiful area and are blessed, at the moment, with many footpaths through the woods and fields to enjoy and relax with our dogs. I understand that housing is important but the impact on the woods and Sussex Wildlife Trust areas, will be enormous.
“Marline Valley is a wonderful mix of semi-natural ancient woodland, unimproved meadows and a classic Sussex ghyll stream situated on the edge of Hastings. This site is also designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Nature Reserve.”
Resident Jackie Green said: “During lockdown our local woodland was a saviour for our mental health while getting out on our daily walks. Residents need to keep these areas. Local wildlife need these areas. I understand that the council has a quota of homes to build but where will be left?”
The draft version of the council's Local Plan says: “In order to establish the acceptability of the principle of development on this site, it will be necessary to undertake an assessment of the ecological impact of any proposed development on the adjacent Marline Valley Woods SSSI.
“This must include the results of an agreed monitoring programme of the adjacent SSSI which sets out the requirements of the species and habitats contained within.
“The results of the programme must identify mitigations to replicate the current conditions within the SSSI to avoid any undue harm to the protected site.”