Two major planning applications have been given outline approval, ignoring concerns about the towns infrastructure from residents and councillors.
The lengthy Wealden Planning meeting this morning (18 July) discussed applications to build 400 homes on Cuckoo Fields and Ersham Park, and also 220 homes on land off Mill Road in Hailsham.
In addition, two new homes were also approved for the previously approved 169 homes at Oaklands also off Ersham Road. In January, 200 new homes were also given approval for Marshfoot Lane bringing the total of new dwellings for Hailsham to a total of 989 homes.
Almost all Councillors during the meeting expressed their concerns about the local road infrastructure and asked how the town will cope with the extra traffic. All developers will be ordered to invest to improve local roads but the money will not be available until full planning approval is given.
Plans to build a large roundabout on common land at the South Road mini roundabout to ease traffic in the area will cost around £1.5m, but again, money will not be available until work begins on the new developments.
In a repeat of the January meetings, Councillors are obliged to take on-board reports from government agencies such as Highways, East Sussex County Council and Natural England, all of which had no issues with planning applications.
Despite all concerns, all three applications were given outline approval and will move to the next stages of approval in the coming months.
Council Roger Thomas commented; “Disgruntled residents must let their local MPs know their thoughts on the decisions. It’s frustrating, as our Councillors are bound by policies of the council. I’m very disgruntled about the reports from Natural England amongst others about these planning applications.
