Revised Ninfield development plans deferred

On Wednesday (January 13), Wealden District Council planners agreed to defer a revised application to build 55 homes on land at Ingrams Farm, in Bexhill Road, a scheme which was granted planning permission in March 2019.

With previous planning permission on the site, officers had argued that there was significant weight in favour of development. 

This was not a view shared by objectors to the scheme, however, who argued the site was inappropriate for the scale of development proposed.

Ian Drewer, a representative of the Ninfield Action Group, said: “The application site is a field at the very edge of Ninfield with open countryside and agricultural land beyond. 

“The applicant proposes building a high-density urban estate on this field, completely out of character with the surroundings and the rural character of the village as a whole.”

Mr Drewer also argued the village lacked the infrastructure to accommodate development and that the scheme would damage the local ecology and environment.

He added: “These factors together demonstrate that the proposed development is not appropriate for the village and should be considered unsustainable. I ask the committee to refuse this application.”

Objectors also highlighted the risk of flooding at the site, pointing out that flood mitigation measures had not been fully signed off by the county council.

Similar concerns were raised by ward councillors Ray Cade and Pam Doodes, who called on the committee to defer the decision until concerns around flooding and drainage could be resolved.

They also raised concerns about the developers’ construction management plans and relationship with local residents.

Many committee members shared these concerns and unanimously backed calls to defer their decision.

They included Cllr Johanna Howell, who said: “I was sat on this committee when we did the original one as I remember and we were very careful about how we wanted the layout and look of this site.

“I am particularly disturbed that they would be taking the bungalows and changing that. I think it is completely unnecessary and I would not be willing to see that.

“I am also very concerned about the drainage issues and that they are not properly addressed. 

“This [application] is too soon and it needs to be looked at and taken back.” 

Cllr Howell was not the only member to raise concerns around why the issues around drainage had not been resolved following the previous application.

Cllr Geoffrey Draper (Con) said: “Had I been – like some of my colleagues on this committee – on the original hearings I think I would be sitting here a, aghast and b, a bit cross, that the owners of the site and the developers have had so much time to take into account and act on the very serious conditions about drainage.

“I don’t think we could be possibly asked to make a decision where they have flouted that demand so badly.

“By deferring do we not think it would also give a little bit more time  to give a but consideration and consultation with the public and the residents nearby, because I think they have suffered terribly throughout this long almost fiasco.”

Following further deliberation, the committee agreed to defer their decision until the final drainage details were received. 

The proposed scheme had largely been the same as the one before, although with some significant changes which required committee approval.

As part of this the development would no longer provide eight four-bedroom homes as originally planned, with eight three-bedroom bungalows being added to the site instead. 

The amended plan would also see changes to the layout of the site, with two bungalow plots becoming two-storey homes instead.

For further information on the application see reference WD/2020/1548/MAJ on the Wealden District Council website.