North of Walshes Road, Crowborough, East Sussex
Sold For Residential Development
Phase 1 successful strategic land promotion in Crowborough, East Sussex
There is a shortage of new homes in the District and across the country, forcing up prices and preventing people from achieving their ambitions of owning or renting a home.
The SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment March 2014) recognised development on the site should be visually well integrated into the existing settlement.
Catesby Estates sought to do this with a low density scheme (28 dph) with significant public open space (60%) and additional planting.
This is a sensitively designed housing scheme for Crowborough, tailored to fit the character of the local area. Existing hedges and trees will be retained, and supplemented with additional landscape planting meaning this new development will nestle into the existing landscape, limiting visual impact on the wider area.
The good range of local facilities and public transport connections mean the site is a highly sustainable location for new homes.
The site is located to the north of Walshes Road, opposite the consented Rydon Homes site which is directly to the south of Walshes Road. This site is not within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which surrounds Crowborough.
Land promotion timeline – North of Walshes Road, Crowborough, East Sussex
Outline Planning Application Submitted in 2017
An outline planning application was originally submitted by Catesby in March 2017 for a residential development of up to 100 homes, including 35% affordable housing and public open space located outside the AONB.
Planning Committee Grants Planning Permission 2018
Following a planning committee in August 2018 a condition was imposed to restrict development to 85 dwellings as a result of Wealden’s approach to planning applications in the context of the Ashdown Forest. This approach has since changed following the Inspector’s examination of the now withdrawn Local Plan.
Subsequently, Catesby submitted a Section 73 Application, which was approved in 2020 by WDC to increase the number of new homes from 85 to 100, including 35% affordable housing and public open space.
Strategic land promoted and sold to Dandara in 2021
Catesby Estates has successfully completed the sale of the first phase of residential development at the site north of Walshes Road in Crowborough, East Sussex to Dandara (April 2021).
Catesby carried out extensive public consultation on both sites, liaising with local residents associations, the Town Council, Ward Councillors and other local stakeholders.
A spokespearson at Catesby Estates said; “This is our first land sale to Dandara, who have a reputation for delivering award winning new homes.”
“We look forward to seeing new homes on this site being built out, and we will also be working hard behind the scenes to complete the phase 2 sale within the coming weeks. This has been a real team effort to ensure a smooth and speedy completion of this land deal, during remote working.”
Promoting your strategic land in East Sussex with Catesby Estates
We’re actively seeking strategic land sites in East Sussex. With a proven track record and strong success rate, landowners in the county are welcome to contact us.
Site Specifics
20 Acre Site (8.1 Hectares)
100 New Homes
35% Affordable Housing
HIGHWAYS - We understand local people will be mindful of the impact on local roads. The scheme proposes two roundabouts:
a) Site Roundabout – The proposed site access from Walshes Road will also serve the Walshes Manor farm development (Rydon Homes). Following consultation with residents and highways department and concerns both on the speed of traffic on Walshes Road and specifically, difficulty of vehicles exiting Luxford Road, this has also been revised to be kinked inside the site, thereby deflecting traffic causing it to slow down. This will benefit Luxford Road junction as well.
b) Western Road/Rotherfield Road – In addition a new roundabout on Western Road results in a 53% reduction in queue length.
OPEN SPACE - The development knits in with the surrounding area, providing almost 60% of the site will be undeveloped public open space.
Compared to 0.16ha in policy, we are providing 2.8ha of play areas and public open space which is significantly in excess of WDC’s minimum requirements for formal, informal and amenity space.
Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) for children will also be provided.
ECOLOGY - Existing hedges and trees retained with additional landscape planting will provide a haven for local wildlife.
FLOODING - The site falls within an area classified as Flood Zone 1 (Low Probability of Flooding - less than 1 in 1000 annual probability of flooding from rivers or the sea).
PUBLIC CONSULTATION - Catesby carried out extensive public consultation on the site liaising with local residents associations, the Town Council, Ward Councillors and other local stakeholders.
The feedback received has been used to shape the planning application submitted where possible.
Phase 1 successful strategic land promotion in Crowborough, East Sussex
There is a shortage of new homes in the District and across the country, forcing up prices and preventing people from achieving their ambitions of owning or renting a home.
The SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment March 2014) recognised development on the site should be visually well integrated into the existing settlement.
Catesby Estates sought to do this with a low density scheme (28 dph) with significant public open space (60%) and additional planting.
This is a sensitively designed housing scheme for Crowborough, tailored to fit the character of the local area. Existing hedges and trees will be retained, and supplemented with additional landscape planting meaning this new development will nestle into the existing landscape, limiting visual impact on the wider area.
The good range of local facilities and public transport connections mean the site is a highly sustainable location for new homes.
The site is located to the north of Walshes Road, opposite the consented Rydon Homes site which is directly to the south of Walshes Road. This site is not within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which surrounds Crowborough.
Land promotion timeline – North of Walshes Road, Crowborough, East Sussex
Outline Planning Application Submitted in 2017
An outline planning application was originally submitted by Catesby in March 2017 for a residential development of up to 100 homes, including 35% affordable housing and public open space located outside the AONB.
Planning Committee Grants Planning Permission 2018
Following a planning committee in August 2018 a condition was imposed to restrict development to 85 dwellings as a result of Wealden’s approach to planning applications in the context of the Ashdown Forest. This approach has since changed following the Inspector’s examination of the now withdrawn Local Plan.
Subsequently, Catesby submitted a Section 73 Application, which was approved in 2020 by WDC to increase the number of new homes from 85 to 100, including 35% affordable housing and public open space.
Strategic land promoted and sold to Dandara in 2021
Catesby Estates has successfully completed the sale of the first phase of residential development at the site north of Walshes Road in Crowborough, East Sussex to Dandara (April 2021).
Catesby carried out extensive public consultation on both sites, liaising with local residents associations, the Town Council, Ward Councillors and other local stakeholders.
A spokespearson at Catesby Estates said; “This is our first land sale to Dandara, who have a reputation for delivering award winning new homes.”
“We look forward to seeing new homes on this site being built out, and we will also be working hard behind the scenes to complete the phase 2 sale within the coming weeks. This has been a real team effort to ensure a smooth and speedy completion of this land deal, during remote working.”
Promoting your strategic land in East Sussex with Catesby Estates
We’re actively seeking strategic land sites in East Sussex. With a proven track record and strong success rate, landowners in the county are welcome to contact us.
