Campsite near Cooksbridge granted permission to expand

On Wednesday January 20, Lewes District Council planners granted planning permission to an application connected to The Secret Campsite – a business based at Brickyard Farm near Cooksbridge.

The application had sought permission to replace a shower block with business studios, as well as to begin using an existing barn both as a ‘flexible campsite facility’ and space for educational talks.

While approved by the committee, some members had considerable concerns around the potential impact on neighbours, particularly around access to the site and potential noise disturbance.

Among those to raise their concerns was Cllr Graham Amy (Lib Dem), who said: “It seems to me that it is a question of some form of screening and the access and egress to this site if numbers increase on occasions.

“I wonder if [officers] can advise us if there is anyway of making the access and egress of this site in some kind of quieter way. Is it possible? Is there enough room to actually put some kind of acoustic screening [in place]?

“I agree with everything that they are doing but it does concern me that it is suddenly developing into quite a commercial business.” 

Similar concerns had been raised by other committee members as well as several public speakers who opposed the plans. 

In light of these concerns Ditchling and Westmeston councillor Tom Jones (Con) suggested the application  be deferred for further consultation with East Sussex Highways.

He said: “With regard to the access to the site, a lot has been talked about how narrow it is.

“I’ve not been there myself, I have been unable to, but I might add that I live on the borders of a not dissimilar and there have been number of problems with regard to that camping site. 

“Now I know it is a different site, but highways have turned around and said you will provide an alternative access into that campsite and what they have also insisted is that there are pull ins on each of those two tracks.

“I’m surprised that highways have not made any suggestion about that or if they have why it cannot be done.”

In the end, however, the committee simply opted to add an informative condition asking the applicants to consider adding additional passing places on the access road to prevent congestion.

The committee also added a condition prohibiting the playing of amplified music on site in an effort to avoid noise disturbance. 

Committee chairman Sharon Davey asked officers whether the council could also prohibit dancing on the site, but was advised this would be unlikely to be enforceable. 

Following further debate the application was approved on a majority vote.

Through a separate application, the campsite is also seeking a variation of its existing planning permission to provide an additional three pitches, additional parking spaces and the  creation of four “camping pods”.

If approved, this scheme would increase the number camping pitches on the site from 18 to 21.  This application was not considered by the committee on January 20.

Concerns around disturbance from the site had also been raised as part of a licensing application in August last year. 

During that application, campsite operators Tim and Lisa Bullen spoke of their plans to sell “locally-produced” alcohol from a reception building on site, which also sells firewood and other miscellaneous supplies to campers. 

For details of the application approved by the committee see reference LW/20/0413 on the Lewes District Council planning website. For further information on the campsite’s other expansion plans see application LW/20/0417.