Decision due on 250 houses off Friday Street

Wealden District Council planners are due to consider an application from Wates Developments to build the new homes on 36 acres of Friday Street Farm farmland at a virtual planning committee meeting on Thursday May 21.

Langney residents living close to Pennine Way are objecting to the plans citing existing flooding issues, poor drainage and inadequate water sewage facilities, increased traffic congestion and reduced air quality along with the impact on the adjacent Pevensey Levels, which is a site of Special Scientific Interest.

Wealden’s planning officers are recommending councillors grant permission for the development but Langney councillor Alan Shuttleworth is representing residents and lobbying Wealden council to turn it down.

He said, “This development is on farmland which regularly floods, and the current water arrangements are inadequate for existing houses. The building would certainly disrupt and pollute the site of Special Scientific Interest of the Pevensey levels, affecting protected species and aquatic plant life.”

Wealden council’s Local Plan was rejected by a government inspector in December 2019 on grounds which included the lack of co-operation with neighbouring authorities, and its approach to a clean air and national emissions strategy.

Councillor Shuttleworth said, “A refusal to listen to objections from Eastbourne residents and Eastbourne council would compound the issues raised by the inspector. There are a range of reasons relating to the local infrastructure including the flood risk, road network and pressures on the health provision as to why this development should be refused.

“Climate change has raised the likelihood of more local flooding. It is time to listen to local people.”

The meeting will be a virtual planning committee with participants linking in through video links.

Following pressure from government for more building in the south east, Wealden council has already approved significant new housing developments in the area.

Cllr Shuttleworth said, “There are a number of new housing developments planned for Eastbourne, but these are within the built environment. We need more affordable housing, but Wealden council approving new developments all around the green belt which borders Eastbourne, on the flood plain is not acceptable and is not the answer.”

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