Eton College housing plans for East Chiltington rejected

A proposed new town of up to 3,250 new homes in East Sussex has been rejected by planners.

Lewes District Council has refused to include the planned development on land owned by Eton College near East Chiltington in its local plan.

The council said the site was "unsuitable" and there was a need for smaller, more affordable homes.

The North Barnes Farm Partnership said it was "very disappointed" and called it "the wrong decision".

The council said that following detailed assessment by council officers "the evidence has shown that the site is unsuitable".

The leader of the council, the Green Party's Zoe Nicholson, said: "We have always accepted the need for more housing and I'm very proud that unlike many councils we have built affordable homes, but all development must be sustainable.

"Residents will soon have their say as we look to find appropriate locations for achievable levels of new housing."

Damon Turner from the developers, North Barnes Farm Partnership, said: "We're very disappointed that North Barnes Farm has not been included in the current draft of Lewes District Council's local plan.

"Our proposal is the best plan to help tackle the housing, environmental and climate crises. The exclusion of North Barnes Farm is the wrong decision for the future of Lewes and we are carefully considering our next steps."

At a meeting on 9 November councillors will be asked to approve the next phase of public consultation on the local plan.

Councillor Laurence O'Connor, Lewes council's cabinet member for planning, said: "We want a plan that helps our residents, young and old, find lifelong homes where they chose to live, not where they are currently forced to live, often due to prohibitively high house prices.

"Our evidence shows that we need more smaller homes in the district that are truly affordable."

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