THE owner of a 13th century manor house has condemned plans to build 500 new homes as he says they will impact the history of the site and his views.

Peter Rayner, owner of Ockley Manor in Hassocks, claims plans for the residential development will seriously impact the historic site and views from the manor house.

The proposals, which he believes have been rushed without much public consultation, would be located within 120 metres of the grade II* listed manor house.

Mr Rayner, 52, a commercial property company director, said: “As one of the local residents affected by such a huge development, and such a huge decision, we’re astounded that the first we knew of any potential development that changes the whole area so significantly, for ever more, was as a result of Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) agreeing to adopt the scheme.

“This was on September 27, just two months after the site was first introduced to them by a developer.”

MSDC has approved a revised district plan that places the houses to the north east of the village, near Ockley Lane.

When combined with other new houses planned for Hassocks, the village could have some 900 homes built before 2031 – most of which will come in the first five years.

If plans for the development of the 500 homes go ahead, the number of houses in the village is set to grow by more than 25 per cent.

Mr Rayner, who has been living in the manor house with his family since 2009, said many residents are still unaware of the planned development.

He added: “Without the reporting of your paper, we would have no knowledge of the inclusion within the district plan for 2014-2031.

“Ockley Manor is important to local people. That history is just being ruined by them grabbing the opportunity to get an extra 150 homes in the plan.”

As well as narrowing the gap between Hassocks and Burgess Hill, residents have raised concerns about the impact the homes would have on local infrastructure.

Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, the district council’s cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “In the case of the proposed development at Ockley Lane, because we are proposing to also make it an allocation in the council’s district plan, we are able to provide a higher degree of control over the development and we have included in the plan the requirement that the development must respect the setting of Ockley Manor and incorporate a suitable buffer.”

Developer Gleeson Homes has been contacted by The Argus for a comment on the plans. At the time of publication the company had not responded.

A consultation will run until November 13.