Protest fail to halt homes

AN application to build five houses on the site of a former waterworks depot in Uckfield has been approved.

Plans to demolish former depot buildings and offices in Tower Ride and replace them with dwellings were given the thumbs up by Wealden planners despite opposition from local residents and Uckfield Town Council.

Wealden councillors last week decided to approve the application, which had twice been amended by the applicant. The latest amended plans showed reduced roof heights on three of the five proposed buildings.

Ten letters of objection had been received by the council from local residents. Uckfield Town Council had also opposed the application. Major concerns were that the proposed dwellings would be situated higher than surrounding houses and would therefore overlook neighbouring properties and the development would lead to an increase in traffic. South East Water, who used to own the site and still operate from one half of the depot, also raised concerns over the suitability of building residential properties so near to a working plant.

However, in his report to planning members, senior planning officer Douglas Moss said: 'The terrace of three units which forms plots three to five has been further reduced in height from the first amendments. The further amendments take one metre off the ridge height to create a lower profile, which is regarded as wholly satisfactory.

'The nearest properties to the front of the site in Tower Ride are sufficiently separated by over 20 metres to avoid any remarkable levels of overlooking. To the rear of the site, the nearest 'back to back' relationship, with number 25 Jeffries Way, would be 17 metres, and this distance would increase by significant margins to numbers 19 to 23, which are all sited at an obtuse angle to the site.' He also said that around 40 traffic movements took place each day by the previous operators of the site, and added that planning policy guidance encouraged 'more efficient use of urban land'.