Wealden: Council Planners Lift Limit On Major Crowborough Development

Wealden planners have agreed to lift a condition restricting the number of houses which can be built at a major housing development in Crowborough.

At a virtual meeting on Thursday (June 25), Wealden District Council’s planning committee north approved proposals to remove a condition from a previously-approved outline planning consent for the Walshes Road development.

While developers had sought permission to build up to 100 homes, as a result of policies within the then submission Wealden Local Plan, the committee added a condition which limited the number of houses which could be built on the site to 85 instead.

With the failure of the plan at examination and its withdrawal earlier this year, developers Catesby have asked for this restriction to be lifted.  

Ward councillor Phillip Lunn (Con, Crowborough South East) said:

“I actually live right in the middle of all this development [in Crowborough] and I share a lot of the points made by objectors. 

“However, it is pointless repeating all of those objections today.

"I fully understand the position as described by our officers and given that all technical matters have all been raised [and] covered in the previous application and it isn’t correct we go through all of those again."

He added:

“The original application was for up to 100 properties.

"I understand the reasons why this variation is now being sought. Even though I may have my own objections that is not an appropriate reason to try and block what is being proposed here.”

Following a short discussion the committee agreed to remove the condition as sought by developers.

The final number of houses would be decided as part of a reserved matters application at a later date. The number of affordable houses would also be set at this stage, although it would be expected to be larger than in an 85 home scheme.

For more details see application reference WD/2020/0369/MFA on the Wealden District Council planning website.