An application has been submitted seeking consent to construct approximately 300 dwellings on the northern outskirts of a settlement in East Sussex.
Hallam Land has approached Wealden District Council with a proposal for up to 280 residential units on land situated at Chestnut Cross, Hellingly, in the vicinity of Hailsham.
The scheme encompasses formal and informal recreational areas, a new vehicle access point from Mill Lane, landscaping schemes, drainage systems, and ancillary infrastructure.
Thirty-five percent of the properties would be designated as affordable housing.
Planning documentation characterises the proposal as a natural progression for Hailsham’s northern boundary, consistent with the town’s recent expansion pattern.
The development has already attracted considerable opposition from local inhabitants.
One resident, Jasmine Hudson, described the location as entirely inappropriate for additional residential construction.
She stated that Hellingly experiences flooding with minimal rainfall and expressed concern about the potential impact of further housing development.
Stephenie Giles echoed these concerns, noting significant flood and drainage problems in the vicinity of the River Cuckmere.
She highlighted that sections of Mill Lane, surrounding land, and the Cuckoo Trail currently flood on a frequent basis.
According to Giles, both Mill Lane and Hellingly village become isolated when the river overflows, and the addition of 280 households would substantially worsen existing flooding issues and the disruption caused to current residents.
A portion of the proposed development area falls within flood zone three, indicating a high probability of flooding, though no structures would be built within this specific zone.
The applicant has pointed to Wealden District Council’s existing shortfall in housing supply as a key justification for approving the scheme.
The council has completed an average of 864 new dwellings annually over the past three years, falling considerably short of the current assessed housing requirement of 1,465 homes per year.
The authority can currently evidence only 3.44 years of available housing land, which is below the national benchmark of five years.
The proposed site extends across 16.44 hectares and is positioned north of Mill Lane and west of Grove Hill, adjoining Roebuck Park.
The Cuckoo Trail and Cuckmere River separate the land from Hellingly village.
The parcel remains in agricultural use and comprises a combination of cultivated fields, grassland, scrubland, and woodland.
A determination on the application is anticipated by November 25.