September 5th, 2017.


The Planning Applications Committee meeting to consider the revised planning application (LW/16/0800) for the residential development at the former Newlands School site will now start an hour later than originally planned.

The meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday the 6th of September in Seaford at the Sutton Hall, Downs Leisure Centre, now commencing at 6.00 pm.

The revised planning application which is being reported to the Committee is for outline consent for the construction of 183 new dwellings including 40% affordable housing along with the provision of sports facilities and play areas.

The original application submitted in September last year for 250 dwellings was withdrawn in December following formal objections from Sport England to the loss of public sports facilities and from the District Council’s Conservation Officer over the impact of the housing proposals on the setting of Sutton Place, the Grade 2 listed building adjoining the site. The revised plans for a reduced number of dwellings submitted in March this year provide for a formal sports pitch to replace the proposed dwellings in the western section of the site in response to those objections.

The Town Council’s Planning and Highways Committee considered the revised application at a Public Meeting on the 6th of April. It resolved to object to the proposals on the grounds that the number of dwellings was still too high taking into account potential traffic problems and the need to protect the amenities of existing residents adjoining the site. Also, the provision of new sports facilities to replace those lost to the Town still fell short of what was required.