Planning Officers at Wealden District Council have been ordered not to approve the Marshfoot Lane development by the Secretary of State.
Land off Marshfoot Lane in Hailsham has been earmarked for nearly 300 homes and last month, a thumbs-up was given to the development by councillors, despite locals concerns about the local infrastructure and floodplains (pictured).
In the letter, dated June 8, a Senior Planning Manager from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told Wealden District Council; “The Secretary of State hereby directs your council not to grant permission on this application without specific authorisation.”
Under Article 31 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Secretary of State can ‘call in’ planning applications if they believe the application conflicts with national policy in important ways, or is nationally significant.
The secretary of state now has to take the inspector’s findings into account when making the decision over the Marshfoot Lane development.
Councillor Gavin Blake-Coggins told Hailsham News; “I’m delighted for the residents of Marshfoot Lane as this has been a four year battle in the making. The whole development is inappropriate and flawed as the proposed land is a floodplain, access to the site is totally unsuitable and the extra traffic would affect all the residents on Marshfoot Lane greatly.
He added; “Hailsham is the largest town in Wealden with the least infrastructure. The larger it gets the greater need for a Minor Injury Unit as Uckfield and Crowborough have. “
A spokesperson from Wealden District Council told Hailsham News; “We were informed yesterday, by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, that the application to build up to 300 new homes at Marshfoot Lane, Hailsham, (WD/2017/0458/MAO) cannot be issued. The Members of Planning Committee had resolved to grant planning permission at their meeting on the 28 May 2020. However, the Secretary of State has issued a holding objection whilst he considers whether he should determine the application himself.”
Councillor Neil Cleaver told Hailsham News; “I have voted against this proposal three times now and insisted that if a large development was to go-ahead then Hailsham needs a ring road to improve its infrastructure. I do hope the measure taken by the Secretary of State will have a positive outcome for all residents in Hailsham.”
You can see and download a copy of the letter at the planning application page here.
