Concerns have been voiced regarding proposals for residential construction following an incident involving two children.
The plan to build nine houses adjacent to Waldernheath in Amberstone, close to Hailsham, has attracted opposition centred on vehicular movement and highway safety.
Waldernheath Properties Ltd has submitted an outline planning application to Wealden District Council for the project.
In correspondence from March 19, Hailsham Town Council expressed significant reservations about the safety of the proposed access point.
Questions have been raised regarding how the scheme might affect the safety situation at this junction.
The town council indicated that constructing here would push additional vehicles onto a road already deemed hazardous.
The council highlighted the junction’s present condition, anticipated increased traffic on a dangerous route, and a recent collision involving two children, though specifics were not provided.
The council declared that the proposal would not be considered appropriate until infrastructure improvements had been carried out at the Featherbed Lane, Amberstone and A271 junction.
Planning drawings for the proposed dwellings have also drawn criticism over possible effects on great crested newts.
An ecological assessment indicated that the species would likely be affected by the works.
Further investigation is required because four water bodies exist within 250 metres of the location and whether the protected animals are present remains uncertain.
Wealden District Council’s housing team noted that the parcel of land does not meet the size threshold for affordable housing requirements.
Under the National Planning Policy Framework 2024, local authorities should pursue affordable housing provision on substantial development sites.
Substantial development is defined as schemes comprising 10 or more dwellings, or plots exceeding 0.5 hectares.
Wealden District Council’s housing development officer explained that because the proposal involves nine units on a 0.49-hectare plot, no affordable housing contribution is mandated.
However, GTA Civils & Transport Limited, the firm consulted regarding anticipated traffic volumes the scheme would generate, concluded that the plans align with existing policies and would produce only minimal additional vehicle movement.
The company reported that projected traffic levels can be readily absorbed by the surrounding road network and that no supplementary assessment or remedial measures are necessary.
The application remains in its preliminary phases with determinations still pending.
A Wealden District Council planning statement asserts that, under the National Planning Policy Framework 2024, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks associated with developing this greenfield location.
The document noted that owing to the lack of a five-year housing supply, the detrimental effect on the area’s character resulting from greenfield loss did not supersede the advantages to housing provision.