Detailed plans for housing south of Hailsham submitted

In an application to Wealden District Council, developers Aitco Ltd are seeking planning permission to build 24 homes at the Old Loom Mill site, off of Ersham Road, south of the town.

The site was granted outline planning permission in 2017, with the new application laying out details of the final design. 

The application also includes the demolition of the former mill buildings, which were previously used as a craft centre.

In a planning statement, a spokesman for the developer said: “As a reserved matters application, the proposals build on the outline permission and have used the consultation responses and guidance received in respect of the outline application to inform and develop the detailed design.

“In particular, the design of the scheme is informed by the Wealden Design Guide and the High Weald Housing Design Guide, to create a semi-rural housing development, which builds upon the history of the site and the Wealden character of the area.”

The application proposes a more varied mix of house sizes than suggested at the outline stage, with the scheme to be made up of six two-bed, 12 three-bed, four four-bed and two five-bed houses.

Of these, eight of the houses (four two-bed and four three-bed) are expected to be classed as affordable housing, in line with the 35 per cent requirement.

Developers say the houses have been designed to meet national space standards and to be energy efficient as well.

A spokesman for the developer said: “Renewable energy technology will play a big part in this development, each dwelling will have an air source heat pump (locations to be agreed at technical design stage). 

“There will also be an option to have PV panels for each dwelling. Electric car charging points will be provided in the houses with garages and also a PV solar car charging system to the carports.”

For further details of the proposals see application reference WD/2020/1494/MRM on the Wealden District Council planning website.

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