Plans for 400 new homes to be decided

Plans to build up to 400 new homes in Newhaven are set to go in front of Lewes councillors.

On Wednesday, Lewes District’s Council’s planning committee is due to decide whether to approve outline proposals to develop land at Harbour Heights.

The scheme involves the demolition and redevelopment of the Quarry Road Industrial Estate, as well as plans for housebuilding on greenfield land to its west.

The 20 hectare (49-acre) site, which sits between Gibbon Road and Court Farm Road, has been allocated for a mixed-use development within the Lewes Local Plan.

Planning officers said the allocation weights heavily in the schemes favour but conditions would be required to address certain concerns, particularly those around flooding and drainage.

A council spokesperson said it would "provide a significant benefit, particularly through the delivery of new housing and modern commercial space".

The application, submitted by Trafalgar Group Ltd, only seeks outline permission with all issues other than access requiring further planning consent at a later stage.

This outline permission would cover the creation of two access routes via Quarry Road and Court Farm Road, as well as in-principle approval to build up to 400 homes and to create 1,477 sq m (15,898.3 sq ft) of commercial floorspace.

Despite its scale, the development is not expected to include any affordable housing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A report to the committee said this is due to the “abnormal costs” associated with the site, as a result of its topography and an element of contaminated land.

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