Plumpton Green retirement housing development approved

On Wednesday (September 23), Lewes District Council’s planning committee approved outline proposals to build four bungalows and six flats on land adjacent to 4 Strawlands.  

The properties would only be available to those aged 55 plus and be accessed via Wells Close.

While approved, the proposals had proven to be somewhat controversial among  residents, with several raising concerns around the highways and ecological impacts of the proposals.

In a statement read at the meeting, one of these residents, Michael Wood said: “I object as a resident of Wells Close to the proposed use as access to the site while building the proposed development is in progress and to its continuing use once the development has been completed.

“In a previous planning application more than 20 years ago the use of Wells Close as access was rejected on the grounds it was too narrow for easy access and for emergency vehicles needing to access the close.

“Since then the close has acquired more vehicles, making general use for residents occasionally problematic. Large building machinery will constitute a further problem when seeking access and endanger residents, particularly children.”

Mr Woods also raised particular concerns about the potential for surface water flooding as a result of developing the site. 

Concerns had also been raised by other residents around the potential ecological damage from developing the greenfield site.

Many of these concerns were echoed by committee members, however it was felt that most would have to be determined once a reserved matters, rather than outline, application came forward. These issues would then need to be resolved with conditions at this stage, councillors said.

Adrian Ross (Green, Lewes Bridge) said: “In general I am very happy with the principle of development in this location. There are a lot of positives.

“The plans seem to be exactly as has been allocated within the neighbourhood plan [and] I applaud the fact they are trying to achieve 40 per cent affordable.

“It is quite high density housing, it’s development in a location that already has quite good public transport links and some local facilities and the fact it is being aimed at the over 55s, to allow them to downsize and free up space for younger families in the village.

“All of those aspects I applaud, but there are a lot of conditions that will need to be achieved before the full plans are approved. I do have some serious concerns about the achievability of that.”

Cllr Ross raised particular concerns around flooding and ecology, saying robust conditions would be needed for both. 

Other councillors raised other elements they would like to see addressed at the next stage.

They included Steve Saunders (Independent, Newhaven North), who said: “I would like to see, when it comes back as a reserved matters [application], 106 money possibly going to community transport, which may help with parking and the number of cars for the new dwelling. 

“And also we will hope to see much more in the way of renewable energy sources, like ground source heat pumps, [solar] panels and increased insulation.”

Following the debate, the application was approved by the committee.

For further information see application reference LW/19/0237 on the Lewes District Council website.

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