DEVELOPERS are set to test public opinion again with renewed plans to build homes on the borders of the South Downs.

Lightwood Strategic has submitted new plans to develop 45 homes on a green field known as Meadow Vale south of Ovingdean Road, Brighton.

Previous plans by the company were rejected by Brighton and Hove City Council last year after attracting more than 600 letters of objection and by the Planning Inspector on appeal in March.

Developers could have more success this time around as the new plans are closer to City Plan targets and meet the request of planning committee chairwoman Julie Cattell who invited the firm to return with a downsized scheme with half the number of homes.

But the plans are set to be met with similar levels of opposition with Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby already voicing his concerns about the plans.

Lightwood has proposed a range of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes with garages, parking and connecting roads for the 3.72 hectare field currently used for horse grazing.

Their latest application claims the development will create new homes well serviced by public transport and local shops and provide much needed housing to the area including 40 per cent of properties being made available at affordable levels.

The applicants have also told planning officers that due to the scale of development proposed on a “relatively modest” site, it is unsuitable to provide large areas of playing pitches, allotments or formally laid out parks and gardens but there will be a “significant quantity” of space, natural and semi natural open space and children’s play areas

Lightwood said the new plans had taken account of the inspector’s decision by pulling the development right back from the eastern boundary to “provide more breathing space” to the national park.

At the appeal earlier this year, Planning Inspector Peter Rose said 85 homes would change the “immediate character and appearance” of the site upsetting the current sensitive balance but did not uphold all local concerns over the increased impact on air quality and traffic.

Mr Kirby has urged local residents to make their views known regarding the new planning application.

He said: “I have always been consistent that any new development in the city should be on brownfield and city centre land rather than greenfield sites such as Meadow Vale and would encourage local residents to make their views known and put in their objections to the council.”

John Richards, Deans Preservation Group chairman, said: “It would be a crime and a travesty to build on such a beautiful field which has always been strenuously protected from development by the council in the past

“The developers are playing down the value of the landscape and saying there is nothing special about it when in fact it is one of the most beautiful parts of Brighton.”

Lightwood Strategic director Phil Chichester said: “As a result of working closely with officers to address previous concerns, Lightwood has submitted new plans. 

“The application is now in line with council’s Local Plan evidence base and Urban Fringe Assessment.

“The 45 unit scheme forms part of the council's 5 year land supply so Lightwood are confident the scheme will be granted.”