Hassocks development for 500 homes given the go-ahead

Plans for 500 new homes on the edge of Hassocks have been given the go-ahead despite some lingering road safety concerns.
Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102338001Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102338001
Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102338001

Gleeson Strategic Land wants permission to build up to 500 new homes north of the Clayton Mills development. The scheme also includes land for a primary school, community building and open space.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A simple priority T-junction is proposed but members of the committee wanted the developer to explore the possibility of a dedicated right-turn lane for southbound traffic.

Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102359001Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102359001
Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102359001

However the application returned to the committee yesterday (Thursday February 20), with no changes to the access arrangements.

It was approved by the committee, despite several members voicing concerns about road safety and the speed of traffic in Ockley Lane.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant Mark Gimingham, a partner at i-Transport, described how traffic modelling had shown a right turn lane was ‘not necessary to deal with minimal queuing traffic’ and this would actually lead to increased traffic speeds along Ockley Lane.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Developers would fund a reduction in the speed limit to 40mph although this would have to go through West Sussex County Council processes before being approved.

Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102349001Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102349001
Illustrative artist's impression of scheme for 500 new homes in Hassocks SUS-200221-102349001

The scheme includes a gateway feature to the north, while Ockley Lane would be realigned slightly and moved two metres to the east with a hedgerow and ditch removed and reprovided.

The committee heard concerns about the impact of the access point on Hawthorn Cottage right next door and the heritage assets on the other side of Ockley Lane.

Benedict Dempsey, a Lib Dem district councillor for Hassocks, suggested the developer’s traffic modelling was ‘flawed’ as it had used data from 2017.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Not only had they significantly underestimated traffic flows, but he argued they were still underestimating the number of pupils attending the new school who would be driven from Burgess Hill.

Ian Gledhill, a county council highways officer, described how visibility would be improved by shifting Ockley Lane eastwards and the intention was to reduce the speed limit from the current 60 to 40mph.

Sue Hatton (LDem, Hassocks) felt a lack of empathy had been shown to the owners of Hawthorn Cottage and predicted ‘traffic chaos’ in Ockley Lane if the scheme was to go ahead as currently proposed.

Despite several speakers voicing concerns about the speed of traffic in the area, the application was approved.