Plans to build 108 homes at a former brickworks, near East Grinstead, have been approved for a second time by Mid Sussex District Council.
The application from Ashill Regen Ltd, for the West Hoathly Brickworks, Sharpthorne, was initially given the nod by the planning committee in March.
But it came to the table again after it was realised that a mistake had been made during the advertising phase of the application.
While it had been advertised as a “major” application, it had not been advertised correctly as a “departure” from development plan policy or as a development “affecting the setting of a listed building”.
After taking legal advice, it was decided that the application should be re-advertised in August and put to the committee again.
In addition, the Secretary of State placed a hold on the decision, directing the council not to grant permission without specific authorisation.
That hold was later lifted when she decided not to call in the decision for a second look.
During a meeting on Thursday (17 October), the committee reaffirmed its decision to approve the plans by seven votes to two.
Before the March meeting, the council received 368 representations from members of the public, with concerns raised including over-development of the site, harm to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a “lack of vision and imagination” when designing the scheme.
The new scheme will include 33 homes which will be classed as affordable and 75 to be sold on the open market.
It will also include a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).
A SANG is a recreational site created to attract residents away from sites that are protected for their ecology – such as Ashdown Forest – and are sensitive to activities such as dog walking.
There will be 272 parking spaces – six in a car park dedicated to the SANG – including allocated.
To view the application, go to pa.midsussex.gov.uk and search for DM/23/0827.
The whole application was corrupt and bias. It was signed off so that MId Sussex council can secure the government “106 money” grant that won’t be used in the area that is going to be mostly affected by the development.
No interest was given to serious issues with the development, including a major failure with the victorian drainage system that currently cannot cope and regularly leaks raw foul sewage into the river that leads to Weirwood Reservoir even though this was brought to their attention.
272 parking spaces have been allocated for over 400+ cars that will appear with new residents meaning that Hamsey and Station Road will be now have vehicles parked on both sides restricting access for farm vehicles, school coaches, waste/ recycling lorries and emergency vehicles!
Our local primary school and doctors surgery is already at maximum capacity so where are the new occupants suppose to go?
Many of the existing buildings have asbestos roofs and nothing has been put into the application on how this is suppose to be removed safely and how to protect the neighbouring residents and livestock.
Ashill have sold the story of a “SANG” to the council when we already have extensive access to Gravetye Manor with solid byways and well maintained footpaths which the residents already enjoy. This SANG will turn into an overgrown mess that is apparently going to be looked after by the new residents…..
Many residents were pro a small development on the site with some necessary infrastructure included but this is complete joke and disastrous for what is suppose to be an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.