The Firle Estate had responded to a specific request by Wealden District Council Planners to submit a detailed planning application for 33 dwellings, shops, offices and including the full requirement for affordable housing. This was to be in accordance with their emerging plan and to deal with a substantial shortfall in their 5 year land supply. The application was submitted in August 2016.

Unfortunately, Wealden District Council altered its policy due to the adverse impacts that large scale development was having on the air quality and the ecology of Ashdown Forest. For over two years there has been a moratorium on new housing development in Wealden as a result meaning all planning applications have been placed in the pending file.

However, we have been able to unlock the application ready for a hopefully positive decision shortly as a direct result of our team negotiating robustly with the Council, responding directly to the new emerging planning policy and adjusting the application to suit. A positive decision is expected in October.

For further information, please contact Lachlan Robertson.