Extra homes are to be added to a controversial development site in Crowborough, following a decision by Wealden planners.
On Monday (November 27), Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee South approved an application seeking full planning permission to build 120 homes at the Steel Cross site, on land to the east of Palesgate Lane.
The council had previously approved plans, from a different developer, to build 103 homes on the same land, meaning the scheme was effectively seeking permission to add a further 17 homes to the site.
While officers had advised this previous planning permission was a strong factor in favour of approval, ward councillor Gareth Owen-Williams (Lib Dem) asked the committee to consider the impact of the additional houses.
Cllr Owen-Williams said: “Obviously, we have been told several times by officers that this was all approved … that was for six-sevenths of what we’ve got.
“So if there are traffic issues at rush hour and the residents of Palesgate Lane have to sit behind other vehicles waiting to sit behind other vehicles waiting, that has just gone up by a seventh.
“The numbers are different. I’m not saying highways haven’t approved it, but it is a consideration. It is not the same numbers that were approved before.”
Cllr Owen-Williams — joined by the area’s county councillor Johanna Howell (Con) — also expressed unease about increasing numbers given the site’s somewhat controversial past. This included an appeal.
Ultimately, however, the committee as whole agreed that there were no sufficient reasons to refuse planning permission for the additional homes.
The approval is subject to the signing of a s106 legal agreement, which would be expected to include several infrastructure improvements, such as affordable housing and off-site highways works.
The proposed development is expected to be made up of 14 one-bedroom homes, 21 two-bedroom homes, 34 three-bedroom homes, 42 four-bedroom homes and nine five-bedroom homes.
Of these, 48 would be classed as affordable homes, to be made up of 14 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units, seven three-bedroom units and six four-bedroom units.
