However, a CPRE led meeting in September 2016, with the Wealden District Council Leader and Planning Chiefs, Wealden MP’s, CPRE and SWOT representatives spelled out this significant attack on the Wealden countryside. So under pressure, Wealden announced a reduction in housing numbers in February 2017 – except the reduction from 20,000 to 11,456 was simply a smokescreen – they had just moved the plan end date from 2038 to 2028. In fact the 5 year housing land supply actually decreased further from c.3.9 to c. 2.6 years with this announcement and the housing need numbers to 2038 increased to 22,500. However, housing need numbers were reduced from 14,102 to 11,456 for the period to 2028.

CPRE and SWOT again stepped up their media assault since the Council’s Joint Planning Meeting to endorse this new change was to take place in March 2017. But at the start of the meeting, the Chair announced a further unpublicised change – that due to new evidence regarding Nitrous Oxide deposition levels (traffic fumes) destroying parts of the Ashdown Forest (a European protected SAC area), that all future housing development applications would be assessed against this further impact on the Ashdown Forest. 

This new planning strategy was announced and agreed at the Council’s Full Meeting in mid March 2017.

A Council letter was then sent to all potential developers and their agents informing them of this approach in April 2017 and advising an update by September 2017.
Developer Applications that had been submitted but not heard in a Planning Committee were then put on hold. Instead the Planning Committees have since been focusing on brownfield applications and single or minor housing developments.

Needless to say though the developers are not happy with Wealden’s strategy and are looking to overturn this strategy as soon as possible.

Pressure to agree major developer housing applications, particularly in South Wealden, are on the increase following the Summer holidays.

However, the Council has again informed the developers that no major housing application can be considered until mid January 2018. In the meantime the Council and Natural England are debating how to mitigate the impact of traffic fumes on the Ashdown Forest.

David Connoley and John Hurwood