East Sussex residents and homeowners are opposing the development of 1000 new homes near Lewes.
They say: “There are many reasons why a 78 hectare (193 acre) greenfield site between the small rural settlements of Cooksbridge and Hamsey, on the very edge of the South Downs National Park, is no place to build 1,100 new houses. We have included ten of those reasons below. You may have many more. Please make it clear to Lewes District Council that for all of these reasons, this site has no place in the Lewes District Local Plan.
“This scheme would completely overwhelm the very limited infrastructure of the small local village of Cooksbridge, and the rural hamlets of Hamsey and Offham. It would merge three (possibly four) distinct settlements, creating an urban sprawl – and increasing their combined population by five or six-fold. The area would be impacted beyond recognition.
“Building 1,100 homes on an isolated, greenfield site would create 1,100 new, car-dependent households, promoting unsustainable travel behaviour. All the estimated 2,000+ residents would be reliant on driving to Lewes and other established settlements to access all services.
Why not build 10 homes in each village, which are completely sustainable and affordable. This is purely a convienient way to make money for big development companies with no thought to the local community. It is easier for them to build a large amount in one place and maximise profits. So ruining local landscapes! When will we stop pampering to big business and do the right thing?