A council leader has pledged to lobby the Government to change national planning policy after approval was given to build 700 new homes on farmland near the South Downs despite huge local opposition.
Last week, planning permission was granted for the controversial scheme at Mornings Mill Farm in Lower Willingdon, against Wealden District Council’s wishes.
Government inspector Michael Boniface published his verdict after a three-day appeal hearing earlier in September.
He was highly critical of the council, ordering them to bear the costs of the appeal, stating: “The council’s conduct in this case is the epitome of unreasonable behaviour.”
Wealden withdrew from defending the appeal just four weeks before the hearing took place, stating on its website that “councillors were told by independent legal experts they could not defend the indefensible”.
He wrote in his decision on costs: “Had the council properly considered the planning application, having regard to the available evidence, it would have granted planning permission … As such, the entire appeal, and indeed the costs application, should have been unnecessary.”
Wealden council leader Ann Newton issued a statement today, also referring to an application on land west of Station Road, Hailsham, for 200 homes which has been allowed after refusal by councillors on highways grounds.
Coun Newton said: “We are disappointed with the planning inspectors’ decisions to allow these two developments to go ahead.
“However, as we reflect on the detail, we understand that they are consistent with government policy and this will only serve to redouble our efforts to lobby government to change national policy, to increase investment in infrastructure and most importantly reduce housing targets for our beautiful district.”
Last week, she noted about Mornings Mill Farm: “As councillors we listened to the residents’ views and voted with our hearts.
“We believed it was the right thing to do to turn down the application and maintained our position until we reached the end of the democratic process, when we were told that our defence of the appeal was indefensible. We tried but unfortunately we failed.”
The landowners Peter and Robert Vine issued a statement to the Eastbourne Reporter exclusively last week, saying that they understood the reservations of the community and that they would work closely with the council to allay those fears.
They said: “The Vines have been active members and contributors to the local community since the turn of the last century and will respect that tradition as the current owners of Mornings Mill and Willows Farm.”
There were objections from 4,000 residents, many of them pointing out the neighbouring A2270 road was already congested and expressing concerns about drainage from a housing development built on farmland.
However, Mr Boniface said in his 33-page decision that National Highways and East Sussex County Council, as the highway authority, raised no objection to the development, so he had “no reason to disagree with the highway authorities”.
He also commented that there was no indication that the development would affect surface water draining to the Eastbourne Lakes.
The scheme for the 130-acre site includes plans for 8,600 sq m of employment space, a medical centre, school, community centre and allotments alongside the A2270, near the South Downs.
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I’m so angry about this, the Inspector didn’t take into account previous Inspectors comments who made it clear that congestion would be an issue. He said that Wealden should pay the costs because they pulled out. Nothing about the effects of the environmental issues this will cause. The whole think boils down to money as per usual.
Just another example of the ‘system’ riding roughshod over democracy and the wishes of the community that is likely to be adversely affected by the development. National Highways will have a headache on their hands when the A2270 grinds to a halt. Southern Water too will have a problem when the sewage system overflows. It was always about money, make no mistake. As someone once said “What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men”.