A housebuilder has bought farmland with plans to build 250 homes on the site.

Chartway purchased the land, off Pennine Way in Langney, Eastbourne, from Wates Developments.

The 35-acre site has outline planning permission granted by Eastbourne Borough Council and Wealden District Council for the construction of 250 new homes.

Plans were approved in September 2020 and concern both councils as the site sits across the boundary.

The Argus: A bird's eye view of what the site will look likeA bird's eye view of what the site will look like (Image: Chartway)

The development will include private sale, affordable and private rent homes.

Proposals also include allotments, a playing field and other green spaces.

The development has a strong emphasis on sustainability, Chartway said, and will incorporate homes designed to support biodiversity.

Including open spaces for residents will also be an "integral" part of the development, which is known as Friday Street.

Steve Cresswell, group chief executive at Chartway, said: "Friday Street builds on our existing presence in East Sussex, over in Hastings we are currently delivering a brownfield regeneration project, developing 151 mixed-tenure new homes. Thank you to the hard work from all teams involved in the acquisition particularly to the team at Wates Developments and we look forward to developing the site to create a new community for the vibrant town of Eastbourne."

David Brocklebank, executive managing director at Wates Developments, said: “We’re delighted to have completed the land sale of this site to Chartway, to bring 250 new homes to Langney, Eastbourne. Chartway shares our commitment to creating sustainable developments that drive a lasting and positive impact for communities and the environment”.

Oliver Jolley, group land and new business director at Chartway, said: “The acquisition of the Friday Street site is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with our vision of creating sustainable communities for everyone. Despite the challenging economic environment, it’s great to kick off the New Year with the purchase of this site.”

Chartway said it will now focus on submitting a reserved matters planning application, which concerns outstanding detail of the application which was not included in the outline, in June 2024.

It anticipates that work will begin on site in February 2025.