Councillors approve Hailsham homes despite objections

Councillors have approved plans for a housing development in Hailsham.

On Thursday (July 23), Wealden District Council’s Majors Planning Committee approved an outline application to build up to 36 homes to the south of Howard Close.

The bid by Trafalgar Group Ltd saw opposition from local residents who argued it would harm the area and put additional pressure on infrastructure.

Neighbour John Byrne highlighted concerns around potential loss of privacy and overlooking. He said: “Along the line at the side of my property [the applicant] wants to build five three-bedroom houses.

“All five of those buildings will look over my front garden, my rear garden and the side of my house … the five properties that are going to be overlooking my house will be able to see directly into my front bedroom and my rear bedroom.”

The committee heard this would be addressed as part of a later stage of the planning process as the developer was not seeking permission for a specific site layout at this stage.

Objections were raised by Hailsham Town Council over highway safety; infrastructure pressures; the loss of trees from the site; and the proximity of the site to the Hailsham Wastewater Treatment Works.

The town council said the site is also  a ‘red zone’ for protected great crested newts.

Planning officers did not consider these matters to be sufficient grounds to turn down the application, due to the council’s housing supply position and how this results in a ‘tilted balance’ in favour of development being approved.

Officers said any odour from the wastewater treatment site could be “appropriately managed through detailed layout and design at the reserved matters stage.”

They said East Sussex Highways had raised no objection to the proposed access, subject to planning conditions and the delivery of off-site highway work.

The committee heard that loss of trees had been judged to be acceptable by the council’s arboricultural officer.

Impact on Great Crested Newts was considered to be adequately mitigated as a result of the developer signing a licensing scheme.

The committee approved the application, but on a narrow vote with reservations expressed on all sides.

Seconding a motion put forward by committee chairman Gareth Owen-Williams, Cllr Greg Collins (Green) said: “This all comes down to the tilted balance at the end of the day.

“So holding my nose very, very firmly — because I think officers know how much I dislike the tilted balance and the fact that it places a pair of handcuffs on us when it comes to deciding these applications — I will second your proposal.”

When put to the vote, the motion to approve in line with the officers’ recommendation saw two in favour, two against with one abstaining. Cllr Owen-Williams used his casting vote to break the tie in favour of his motion.

For further information see application reference WD/2024/0342/MAO on the Wealden District Council website.

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