Development near Wealden’s new crematorium approved

Wealden District Council opened the state of the art facility just off the A267 last year.

Developers want to build 53 homes north of the crematorium and submitted an outline application to the council.

This follows the withdrawal of similar plans for 61 dwellings.

The revised application was approved by members of the planning committee south on Thursday (May 28), despite strong concerns from ward members Susan Stedman and Bob Bowdler, who both represent Horam & Punnets Town.

Cllr Stedman could ‘not see any benefit’ to the village or surrounding area, while Cllr Bowlder pointed out new residents would have to cross eight road junctions to make it to the village centre on foot.

He asked how East Sussex highways was going to ensure pedestrians’ safety when not even one new crossing was proposed as part of the application.

Angela Snell (Con, Polegate Central) felt the access was very ‘narrow’ on to what was a rural lane, while Peter Roundell (Con, Maresfield) described how the development would be ‘totally reliant on the car’.

He added: “I think there are many elements of this that are so unsatisfactory.”

David Watts (Con, Arlington) added: “As a council we have spent all this money building a state of the art facility which may be overlooked by considerable housing. It’s not really the essence of a place of solitude and contemplation is it?”

Officers advised against a deferral to seek more information from the county council on highways and education as there was ‘not much more they would say’.

They also pointed out that other development had been permitted closer to the crematorium.

While some speakers raised concerns about sustainability, others felt they did not have sufficient reasons to refuse the application.

And the officers’ report argued that illustrative layouts provided by the applicant showed development located away from the southern boundary of the site enabling a’ softer transition between built form and the open countryside seen on the approach to the village’.

Despite local members’ opposition, the plans were approved by the committee.

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