23 hours Ago
Controversial and long-running planning proposals are due to go back in front of councillors next week. On Wednesday (April 9), Lewes District Council’s planning committee is due to consider a pair of reserved matters applications connected with proposals to build six homes at the Bridgelands site in Barcombe Cross. The development secured outline planning permission in November 2018, with access, layout and scale having already been approved as part of this earlier application.
Both reserved matters applications have been on the council’s books for quite some time. The first application (LW/20/0245), which seeks permission connected with the scheme’s layout and appearance, was first submitted in April 2020. The second application (LW/21/0872) was submitted in November 2021 and seeks permission connected with the scheme’s landscaping.
The overall scheme has undergone significant changes since the reserved matters applications were first submitted. In a report to the committee, a council planning spokesman said these revisions were “made to allow for appropriate surface water management and ecological protection/enhancements". Read more: Plans for 'disastrous' new traveller caravan site prompts fury from residents In the report, a council planning spokesman said: “It is considered that it has been demonstrated that the submitted layout can support an appropriate drainage scheme that would not interfere with the existing overland flow across the site nor overwhelm the watercourses into which surface water would be discharged.
“The applicant has worked with the county ecologist to refine the layout and landscaping of the scheme to ensure suitable wildlife corridors and buffers are provided, taking into account the wide range of habitat that the site provides. “It is recommended that the application is approved.” The revisions also reduce the size of the properties from what had first been proposed.
The initial scheme would have been made up of three five-bedroom houses, one three-bedroom house and two two-bedroom houses. The revised scheme is instead made up of three two-bedroom houses, one three-bedroom house and two four-bedroom houses. The committee report also appears to list a new applicant.
The initial reserved matters schemes both list the applicant as a Mr R Meaker, while the committee report lists the applicant as a Mr James Caldwell. While recommended for approval, the scheme has seen a significant amount of opposition since it was first proposed. The two applications have collectively received 110 letters of objection, although these appear to include multiple submissions from the same individuals over the lifespan of both applications.
In their report, officers also note how many of the objections relate to earlier iterations of the scheme. In more recent comments, however, some objectors have argued that the length of time passed since the plans were first submitted means much of the evidence behind the proposals is now out of date..
