Rye council rejects Tilling Green housing proposal

The proposal to build 32 homes and a community centre has been rejected by Rye councillors.
An artist's impression of the proposed Tilling Green developmentAn artist's impression of the proposed Tilling Green development
An artist's impression of the proposed Tilling Green development

The Tilling Green development was rebuffedfor being ‘discriminatory’, over-developed and poorly designed.

Town council members voted to oppose Amicus Horizon and Rye Partnership’s plans at a meeting on Monday (December 7).

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Cllr Ian Potter was against the proposal as disabled people and the elderly could only use the ground floor apartments.

“The point is that if I bugger my knee tomorrow and it’s ruined for the rest of my life, I still can’t live in one of those homes on a higher floor because there isn’t a lift,” he said.

“That is not fair, that is not provided for and it doesn’t follow the principles of equality and diversity.”

Cllr Micheal Boyd and others said the four-storey central block was an issue as it would invade people’s privacy and ruin the area’s character.

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He suggested it should be lowered to three-storeys and possibly widened to fit the lost homes back in.

Members agreed with resident John Wylie who said the staircases should be straight to allow a stairlift to be installed which would allow disabled people to live there.

Some councillors were still for the plans but did feel that it was unacceptable in its current form.

East Sussex County Council member Keith Glazier encouraged councillors to stick with the plan if they want houses built there.

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Concerns around the flood risk were also brought up and cllrs Cheryl Creaser and Rebekah Gilbert lamented the fact that older people would not be able to use the affordable housing because of the lack of a lift.

Council leader Bernadine Fiddimore did accept that it was more expensive to provide more the disabled or elderly so the homes were not designed for them.

Amicus Horizon has been contacted for comment.

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