Eastbourne chalk pit ‘a hole in the ground not suitable for human habitation’

On Tuesday (February 23), Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee considered an outline application seeking permission to build 18 houses at the former Ocklynge Chalk Pit in Willingdon Road. 

While the scheme had been recommended for approval, the committee were uncomfortable with moving ahead with the scheme until they had greater information about the potential ecological impact of development. 

Much of the concern centred around the late submission of a report from the county council ecologist, meaning members had not been able to read it in detail .

Cllr Candy Vaughn (Lib Dem) said: “We haven’t seen the ecology report. There could be badgers, could be bats, there could be any number of animals there, that we would turfing out of a place where they have found a home.

“I would like to see the ecology report before I even think about saying, ‘yes people can start to develop’.”

While officers had had sight of the report (which they said did not raise grounds for refusal at this stage), many committee members shared concerns about proceeding without the full information.  

As a result, the committee opted to defer their decision to allow them to both read the ecology report and – if possible under covid restrictions – hold a site visit.

The committee opted for deferral over a motion to refuse the application outright from Cllr Barry Taylor (Con), who described the site as a “hole in the ground not suitable for human habitation”. 

The application – from landowners East Sussex College – only seeks in-principle approval to build houses on the site, with all technical details reserved for a later date.

Despite this, the application includes some indicative designs for the sorts of properties which could be built. 

These indicative designs show the buildings – a mix of one, two and three-bedroom townhouses – backing on to the steep sides of the quarry. The designs show these buildings laid out in trio terraces of varying heights, with rooftop gardens and terraces.

This part of the proposals have seen some words of caution from officers, however, as they consider there would be a potential for overlooking and a loss of privacy. But as an indicative design, officers said these concerns would not be grounds for refusal of the outline scheme as more detailed plans would come forward at a later stage.

The applicant also included some concept drawings of housing on the site, although this saw some criticism from committee chairman Jim Murray.

Cllr Murray said: “The applicant has been a bit naughty here by putting in these lovely pictures of this four-storey amazing complex that we could possibly get in there.

“There is no anticipation we are going to get that in any way, shape or form, so please ignore these. All that we are looking at is [whether] that site is suitable for 18 potential dwellings.” 

Details of the affordable housing provision would also be a reserved matter, although officers say the development would be expected to provide seven affordable homes on-site as well as a financial contribution to works elsewhere. 

The land also already has two derelict cottages on its outskirts. The applicant said these could be retained and renovated as part of the development, bringing the total number of dwellings on the site to 20. The potential renovations do not form part of the outline application, however.

For further information on the proposals see application reference 200855 on the Eastbourne Borough Council planning website.