A DECISION on plans to build more than 180 homes on the site of a former independent school will be made next month.

Lewes District Council’s planning committee will determine an application to build 183 homes on the Newlands School site in Seaford at Downs Leisure Centre on Wednesday September 6.

The 650 pupil school closed in July 2014. A £2.3 million land sale of the site had been agreed as far back as 2003.

Plans for the homes were first submitted back in October for 238 homes and then revised in March replacing some housing with sports pitches and removing other homes from impacting on nearby grade II listed Sutton Place which developers also hope to develop in the future.

The main Newlands School Edwardian building will be converted into housing with all other school buildings demolished.

Forty per cent of homes in the scheme by Jaynic Properties will be affordable.

Seaford Town Council held a special meeting, attended by 75 residents, in April in which they formally agreed to object to the plans because lost sporting facilities including popol and gym were not being adequately replaced and appealed for the number of homes to be reduced again to 140.