Plans for 45 homes refused

Plans for 45 homes on the edge of Wivelsfield Green have been unanimously refused by Lewes district councillors.

An application for 55 dwellings south of South Road was turned down in 2016.

Developers have come back with revised plans, for fewer homes, alongside a landscaped area to the east of the site, extra woodland and a new pedestrian walkway along South Road.

The council’s planning applications committee unanimously refused the new plans on Wednesday, April 27.

Ian Dawson, chair of Wivelsfield Parish Council, described how the plans failed the neighbourhood plan in two key aspects: the scheme was above the up to 30 units maximum size of any development and the village lacks the necessary infrastructure for such significant housebuilding.

He pointed out the primary school was at capacity, the bus service is limited, there is a lack of health services and only one pub and one shop in Wivelsfield Green.

Mr Dawson also described the development as car reliant and believed it would be detrimental to the local landscape.

Others highlighted the ecological damage of building on the site. Parking and traffic was also described as ‘already a problem’.

But Rory Kemp, project manager for Wates Developments, believed the scheme was ‘technically robust and legally compliant’ and highlighted the 40 per cent affordable housing, children’s play area, wildlife park and new trees.