Proposals for a major housing development in Uckfield have been refused by Wealden planners. Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee North considered an outline application seeking permission to build up to 145 homes on land to the north of Eastbourne Road . While it had been recommended for approval, the scheme had seen objections raised by East Sussex Highways due to concerns around “excessive walking distances” for future residents and “unsuitable cycling routes towards the town centre.
” Highways said these concerns resulted in the site being considered an “unsustainable” location, although Wealden planning officers said this could be addressed through conditions. However, committee members felt the scheme should not be approved before the necessary improvements were identified. Cllr Andrew Wilson (Ind), who put forward the motion to refuse, was among those to argue against the scheme.
He said: “We’re sitting here talking about 145 houses, many of which are going to ...
have families in them, putting them on a road which [East Sussex] Highways says is an unsustainable location. “They are very clear on that. It is an unsustainable location from a highways perspective; there is no ambiguity there.
I don’t understand why we can’t sit here and accept that.” He added: “I just can’t see how we can sit here and approve this with such a glaringly obvious flaw in its location at this time. “If the road network was improved, if the walking netwo.
