Peacehaven housing scheme: Two councils under fire over plans

The project at Lower Hoddern Farm, Peacehaven, was approved by Lewes District Council chiefs in April, with plans due to get underway by the end of the year.

But Peacehaven Town Council has now said the Lewes authority may have been put under pressure by the Government to push through the plans for the “affordable” homes – or face having its planning powers taken away if not.

A town council statement said: “Lewes District Council planning committee may have received undue pressure on the planning applications committee by being told that the Government would take away their planning powers if they did not determine the application.

“Planning applications can only be determined by recognised planning rules.”

Peacehaven councillors met last Thursday and have written to complain to Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council, as they claim the latter may have “misled” the planning committee.

Councillors say the authorities have shown a “total disregard for residents’ views” when making the call on the housing development, which is a Barratt Homes scheme.

Lewes District Council dismissed the claims. A spokesman said: “The Lower Hoddern Farm planning application underwent the same rigorous evaluation and scrutiny that all proposals for major development are subject to. This included extensive public consultation, public meetings and a debate that received numerous contributions both for and against the development.

“Subsequently, councillors voted to support the plans for 143 new properties, including 55 affordable homes, and gave outline planning permission for a further 307 properties, including 125 affordable homes. The decision also unlocked £4 million to deliver a wide range of local transport and wider infrastructure improvements.”

At the planning meeting when the development was approved, residents voiced their concerns and anger about the plans.

They believe the plans are not suitable for Peacehaven, with more homes certain to bring even more congestion to the A259 South Coast Road, which is one of the busiest roads in Sussex.

In regard to the claims about the county council, Peacehaven councillors said: “Its report said ‘development was not expected to resolve existing traffic issues on the A259 but it could seek to ensure that the development results in nil detriment’. The developers transport assessment does not measure or apply to current A259 traffic volumes. Consequently, how could the county council assert that the development would have a neutral effect upon current traffic flows?”

A county council spokesman said: “Up-to-date traffic data was presented to the planning committee by the applicant, who had obtained the information from the County Data team.

“Lewes District Council’s local plan allocates the Lower Hoddern Farm site for development and sets out policy requirements relating to improvements to public transport.”