89 Westergate homes approved

Plans for 89 homes in Westergate have been approved after changes were made to a development previously refused following an appeal.

The site is located on the land behind Meadow Way and plans include 89 homes, new open space and associated infrastructure. 

Within the scheme there will be 27 affordable homes, made up of 18 rented, seven first homes and two shared ownership properties.

The outline application was allowed on appeal in December 2023 after previous refusal, meaning the principle of the development has already been established. 

Changes to the latest plans include removing a proposed three-storey block of flats, increasing distance between properties and adding more open space, including a trim trail and play area.

The application received 95 objections from 87 nearby residents, with concerns including drainage, traffic, wildlife, privacy and the layout of affordable housing. 

Aldingbourne parish councillor, Katherine Jarman spoke at the planning committee meeting on Wednesday, September 23 and said the affordable homes were still clustered along the southern boundary. 

She said this had been raised by the planning inspector when an earlier application was dismissed on appeal. 

She added: “The inspector said that the clustering along the southern boundary weighs heavily against the proposal.”

Local resident Naomi Taylor Marsh said the development did not reflect the character of the surrounding area. 

She added: “There is not a single bungalow in the proposed development, completely disregarding the need to be in keeping with the area.”

Matt Davy, speaking at the meeting on behalf of the applicant, said the latest plans had been amended to respond to concerns raised in previous applications. 

He added: “It was clear that we needed to rethink and respond to the feedback received.”

Planning officer Amber Willard responded on the separation of affordable housing throughout the development and said she did not consider the updated positions harmful.

Councillor Richard Bower said he did not believe the changes to the separation of the units had addressed the previous concern.

He said: “If this was cited by an appeal inspector previously as a reason for refusal, I have to say I see no improvement.

“To me, there’s no difference between this and a previous application which we refused on appeal.”

Councillor Martin Lury, who said he had previously opposed the application, acknowledged improvements to separation from existing bungalows and the removal of the block of flats. But he said the position of affordable housing was still a concern for him.

The application was ultimately approved by councillors by seven votes for, two against and two abstentions. 

Following the decision, Aldingbourne Parish Council said it was disappointed that the plans had been approved.

Parish Councillor Sue Foott said: “I am very sad that the parish council’s, and residents’, long fight to oppose this development has come to an end.

“However, I take comfort in the fact that thanks to our repeated objections, the
developers eventually scrapped their extremely unpopular plans to include a three-storey block of flats in the middle of the site. They have also included more green space in the development, and moved the houses on the southern boundary further away from existing homes.”

She added: “We will now concentrate on trying to ensure that the developers’ Construction Management Plan, which governs issues like the hours when works can take place, protects residents as much as possible.”

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