Category: housing

As with all of the possible Housing Sites in the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan process, in 2019 landowners and developers were  invited to put forward their concepts and ideas for consideration by the public and the Neighbourhood Plan Housing Group.

In April 2021, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group received a preliminary concept proposal for consideration from the landowners of the HG 6 potential site.  The potential site off London Road, is to the west of the A21 and is currently grass pasture land. 

The site was first identified by the landowner and Rother District Council as a possibility for new housing in the early 2000’s, and again in 2013 and 2016, and is outside of the Hurst Green Development Boundary. The area like the entire parish, falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

The landowner/developers are proposing 30 new dwellings. The early concept design plan does not indicate a housing type breakdown, however we assume it will be in-line with Rother District Council housing mix policy.

Residents should note that while the site was identified as part of the call for sites process, that this or the receipt of this concept proposal from the landowner does not mean the site will be allocated for development or included in the Neighbourhood Plan. It is a technical exercise aimed at identifying potential sites and options for development. With public consultation, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and the Parish Council will then consider how best to take the plan forward. For more information on the stages, please see the milestones section of this website.

As these materials do not form part of a planning application, or the formal Neighbourhood Plan consultation, anyone with comments or thoughts to pass on to the landowner and their agents is warmly invited to contact a member of the neighbourhood plan Steering Group or any Hurst Green Parish Councillor.

You can review the preliminary concept materials as part of the Housing Documents section of this site.In

As with all of the possible Housing Sites in the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan process, in 2019 landowners and developers were  invited to put forward their concepts and ideas for consideration by the public and the Neighbourhood Plan Housing Group.

On the 4th of December 2020, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group received a preliminary concept proposal for consideration from the landowners of the HG 40 and HG 42 sites.  The potential site off Foundry Close, is to the east of the A21 and is currently a mixture of grass pasture land and scrub land. 

These sites were first identified as a possibility for new housing in 2013 and is outside of the Hurst Green Development Boundary. The area like the entire parish, falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

The landowner/developers are proposing 42 new dwellings. The housing density shown is very high and as drawn, include no public amenities or areas. The early concept design plan does not indicate a housing type breakdown, however we understand the that landowner/developers are proposing:

• 22 houses on the HG 40 site
• 16 houses and 4 flats on the HG 42 site

Residents should note that while the site was identified as part of the call for sites process, that this or the receipt of this concept proposal from the landowner does not mean the site will be allocated for development or included in the Neighbourhood Plan. It is a technical exercise aimed at identifying potential sites and options for development. With public consultation, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and the Parish Council will then consider how best to take the plan forward. For more information on the stages, please see the milestones section of this website.

As these materials do not form part of a planning application, or the formal Neighbourhood Plan consultation, anyone with comments or thoughts to pass on to the landowner and their agents is warmly invited to contact a member of the neighbourhood plan Steering Group or any Hurst Green Parish Councillor.

You can review the preliminary concept materials here as part of the Housing Documents section of this site.

As with all of the possible Housing Sites in the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan process, in 2019 landowners and developers were  invited to put forward their concepts and ideas for consideration by the public and the Neighbourhood Plan Housing Group.

On the 17th of December 2020, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group received a concept proposal for consideration from the landowners of the HG 22 site, which also includes the HG 43 site.  The potential site on London Road lies opposite Hurst Green School, to the east of the A21 and is currently grass pasture land. 

The site was first identified as a possibility for new housing in 2018 and is adjacent to the Hurst Green Development Boundary. The area like the entire parish, falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

The landowner/developers originally proposed 40 new dwellings, set adjacent to a new public village green that is roughly the same size as the Moor in Hawkhurst. In May 2021, the landowner/developers advised the Parish Council that they had reduced their plans to 36 new dwellings  The housing density shown is relatively low, the original concept plans showed a housing breakup consists of:

• 4 houses and 2 flats that have 1 bedroom.
• 7 houses and 4 flats that have 2 bedrooms
• 9 houses and 3 bungalows that have 3 bedrooms.
• 7 houses that have 4 bedrooms.
• 4 houses that have 5 bedrooms.

The plans show that the landowner/developers are proposing a new pedestrian crossing which would link the site to the pavement on the opposite side of the A21.  The plans also show a new area of public woodland, which we understand may include some children’s public play equipment.

A new school drop off parking area is shown close to the pedestrian crossing. We understand this could be used by both the school and during the day for those visiting the green or walking the nearby public right of way that leads to Stage Field in Silver Hill. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group have sent the received plans to the school for their comment. 

Parking is shown as including 2.6 car parking spaces per home, with 24 spaces allocated for visitors and 10 spaces as part of the school drop off area. 

Residents should note that while the site was identified as part of the call for sites process, that this or the receipt of this concept proposal from the landowner does not mean the site will be allocated for development. It is a technical exercise aimed at identifying potential sites and options for development. With public consultation, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and the Parish Council will then consider how best to take the plan forward. For more information on the stages, please see the milestones section of this website.

As these materials do not form part of a planning application, or the formal Neighbourhood Plan consultation, anyone with comments or thoughts to pass on to the landowner and their agents is warmly invited to contact a member of the neighbourhood plan Steering Group or any Hurst Green Parish Councillor.

You can review the concept materials as part of the Housing Documents section of this site.

On the 29th of October 2020, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and Hurst Green Parish Council received a planning decision notice from Rother District Council, the notice outlined the approval for the planning application at Foundry Close.

In the works since the previous unsuccessful planning application by Millwood Designer Homes, the approved scheme features 20 new homes, and in a revision from the submitted application, this now contains 8 affordable homes. 

The approved scheme is smaller than the original, that proposed some 60 homes, but larger than the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and the Parish Council recommended, who based upon a report written for the Parish Council from consultancy AECOM, noted that the site, based on size alone, could only accommodate a maximum of 18 homes. The Land Owners, in a bid to obtain planning permission and an agreement around affordable homes, increased this to 20 new homes, with 8 of these to be affordable.

Despite the problems with parking in and around Hurst Green village,  the scheme’s parking provision is in accordance with, and higher than is required of new developments, as determined by the East Sussex County Council’s Residential Parking Demand Calculator. The approved scheme has 29 car parking spaces to be shared by the 20 new homes, with 17 further spaces being provided as unallocated parking bays. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group despite pushing for further spaces to be allocated, feel this allocation is too small for the development, with most families in Hurst Green having access to, or ownership of more than 1 car.  The unallocated parking spaces include 5 bays adjacent to the existing Foundry Close, which according to the District Council’s commentary, is intended to go some way towards meeting a need from existing local residents without on-plot parking to park their vehicles on Foundry Close.

Residents of Hurst Green may be surprised to learn that the planning documents reveal that both Highways England and East Sussex Highways were consulted in respect of the new development, and that neither raised any objections.

All of the homes are to be two storeys in height, although three of the dwellings are to be 2.5 storeys in height, containing roof dormers. There is a mix of elevational treatments consisting of weatherboard, tile hanging, brick and painted render; and a mix of plain tiles or slates to the roofs of the dwellings. 

The layout of the development retains provision for extending the site south to ensure that road access through the site to the adjacent Neighbourhood Plan HG40 site is provided and maintained.

The District Council have responded to the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group’s comment in the planning decision notice, noting that respect of the size of the proposed area annotated on the plan as ‘peace garden’, remarking that “as the applicant has pointed out this small public garden area has only been included at the suggestion of the Parish Council and there is no policy requirement to
provide public open space as part of the development. Moreover, the applicant has stated that it would not be in the applicant’s interest to leave this poorly landscaped or as a blank canvass as the applicants’ aim is to make the landscaping as attractive as possible with a view towards selling the houses.”

http://planweb01.rother.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=RR/2019/2194/P&from=planningSearch

View the original Parish Council’s response to the planning application here: https://hurstgreen2030.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foundry-Close-Planning-Application-RR20192194P-on-site-HG-35-Parish-Council.pdf

Rother District Council have informed the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group that the developers behind the Silver Hill, Windmill Farm (HG 38) site have applied for outline planning permission ahead of the Neighbourhood Plan being completed.  

Selected items relating to the application:

• The outline application is for three, 3-bedroom detached homes, at Silver Hill, a hamlet situated to the south of Hurst Green.
• The proposal doesn’t include provision for affordable housing.
• The site (HG 38) is situated on the west side of Bodiam Road, next to Windmill Farm, a property at the southern end of development on the western side of Silver Hill.
• Silver Hill is outside of the development boundary of Hurst Green village.
  

View the application and read the supporting documents here:

https://planweb01.rother.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=RR/2019/1956/P&from=planningSearch

As with all of the possible Housing Sites in the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan process, following the professional site assessment by AECOM in 2019 landowners and developers were  invited to put forward their concepts and ideas for consideration by the public and the Neighbourhood Plan Housing Group.

On the 2nd of January 2020, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group received a concept proposal for consideration from the landowners of the HG 11 site.  The site on Burgh Hill lies to the west of the A21, between Hurst Green and Etchingham and is currently grass pasture land. 

The HG 11 site was first identified as a possibility for new housing in 2003 and is adjacent to the Hurst Green Development Boundary. The area is considered by some to form a natural infill between existing residential developments to the north, west and east of the site, and like the entire parish, falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

Currently the site is boundaried by mature planting to the west, north and east aspects and by an area of wetland forming the southern boundary between the site and open farmland beyond. The northern boundary (onto the road) is currently screened by a 2 metre  hedgerow which incorporates two trees and an access gate. 

The landowner/developers are proposing that each of the 6 possible new dwellings could feature a site area of approximately a quarter of a hectare,  each being a home of between 4-6 bedrooms. They are also proposing providing a pedestrian public footpath along the front of the development. 

Residents should note that while the HG 11 site was identified as part of the call for sites process, that this or the receipt of this concept proposal from the landowner does not mean the site will be allocated for development. It is a technical exercise aimed at identifying potential sites and options for development. With public consultation, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group will then consider how best to take the plan forward.

Therefore at this stage, as these materials do not form part of a planning application, or the formal Neighbourhood Plan consultation, anyone with comments or thoughts to pass on to the landowner and their agents is warmly invited to contact a member of the neighbourhood plan Steering Group or any Hurst Green Parish Councillor.

You can review the concept materials here as part of the Housing Documents section of this site.

 

In the works since the previous unsuccessful planning application by Millwood Designer Homes, the developers behind the revised Foundry Close development proposal have submitted an application to Rother District Council for planning permission for 20 new homes. The revised scheme is smaller than the original that proposed some 60 homes.

Selected items relating to the application:

• The developers vision for the site is of a meandering village street, fronting the northsouth tree belt. We understand, this concept arose from discussions with the Rother District Council during the developer’s pre-application stage.
• The Neighbourhood Plan professional site assessment carried out by consultancy AECOM proposed that the whole site was suitable for development,  however at maximum density / accommodation of 19 homes.
• The application is for 20 homes, however not all of the site is being used for housing due to the presence of dormice, a protected species.
• Of the 20 houses proposed, 6 (30%) are 2 bedroomed cottages in accordance with planning policy. 
• There are no flats proposed.
  
• Access to the development is proposed via the existing private road (Foundry Close) which is already in the ownership of the developers.
• Despite the problems with parking in and around Hurst Green,  the application’s parking provision is in accordance with the East Sussex Residential Parking Demand Calculator, this includes the addition of 6 on-street spaces that replace those lost from Foundry Close which is currently used by residents / nearby houses as overspill / primary parking. 
• Allocated and some visitor parking (2 spaces) is provided in rear parking courts and unallocated Foundry Close replacement spaces are provided on-street along with 2 further visitor spaces. 
• The submitted application proposes pavements throughout the development.
• At the request of the Neighbourhood Plan group an area of public open space, possibly a peace garden is included as a focus for the development and the wider area.
  
• The developer has stated as part of their application that “the high costs of developing this site and the sites reduced potential and economies of scale make it impossible for the scheme to meet [Rother] District Council’s 40% affordable housing target.” They are proposing making a financial contribution towards affordable housing elsewhere in the parish. 
  

View the application and read the supporting documents here:

http://planweb01.rother.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=RR/2019/2194/P&from=planningSearch

View the Parish Council’s response here: https://hurstgreen2030.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Foundry-Close-Planning-Application-RR20192194P-on-site-HG-35-Parish-Council.pdf

Following the Neighbourhood Plan Local Housing Demand Survey, which was conducted across Hurst Green from March to May 2019, we’re pleased to share the results. We are grateful to the many residents (over 40% of households) who returned the survey, and to the community cafe and the local businesses who served as collection points for the responses.

The design, the hand-delivery of each survey and the subsequent analysis was freely undertaken by volunteers from the Neighbourhood Plan and by Parish Councillors. This meant that whilst this survey delivers high value, it was produced at a very low cost to the taxpayer, around £130 to print and staple the surveys.

The last local housing survey of this type was conducted ten years ago. Indeed the data driving Rother District Council’s Housing Plan (published in January 2019) is based on the ‘Rother Housing Needs Survey’ which was conducted 14 years ago in 2005, and was updated in 2012.  So as well as being many years out of date, the previous District Council studies only looked at Hurst Green in the context of an area described as ‘rural Rother’. This area also included Burwash, Etchingham and Ticehurst and used only a limited postal sampling methodology – so an updated survey was somewhat needed to help understand the housing needs of local people in Hurst Green, and we think it has delivered.

Summary of results, as of May 2019:

• 72% of households say that the Hurst Green area is their preferred place to live.
• 22% of households are living in accommodation that is not suitable for their needs.
• 28% of households say that the Hurst Green area is not their preferred place to live. Top reasons being: a) limited facilities, b) road noise and traffic and c) it being difficult to meet people and make friends. 
• 23 local households are looking for homes within Hurst Green village.
• 3 local households are looking for homes in the Silver Hill area.
• 4 local households are looking for homes elsewhere within the Hurst Green parish boundaries (rural Hurst Green).
• Taking into account homes currently on the market and the likely migration of new residents into Hurst Green village (based on analysis between 2014-2019) there is an oversupply of flat/ maisonette/ apartment/ bedsit homes and an oversupply of non-detached homes.
• Taking into account homes currently on the market and the likely migration of new residents into Hurst Green village (based on analysis between 2014-2019) there is a specific local demand now for 16 new dwellings, including 6 new detached dwellings, 3 new bungalows, 2 new sheltered / retirement dwellings and some 5 new additional dwellings.

Read the full survey results:
Evidence #35 – Hurst Green local housing demand survey

 

* Update April 2020 – refused by Rother District Council 14th October 2019 and subsequently refused at Appeal on the 1st of April 2020. *

Rother District Council have informed the Hurst Green Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group that the developers behind the HG 23 site, (which is adjacent to Pentwood Place on London Road), have applied for outline planning permission ahead of the Neighbourhood Plan being completed.  

Selected items relating to the application:

• The outline application is for one, 4/5-bedroom detached home.
• The proposal doesn’t include provision for affordable housing.
• The site is situated at the north end of Hurst Green village, and is outside of the development boundary of Hurst Green village.

View the application and read the supporting documents here:

http://planweb01.rother.gov.uk/OcellaWeb/planningDetails?reference=RR/2019/1784/P