Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
|Home
Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
This website has been partly paid for from the funds made available to every MP to assist them in communicating with and representing their constituents.
Printed and hosted by Pipex Communications UK Ltd, Humber Buildings, Humber Rd, Beeston, Notts, NG9 2ET. Published and promoted by Norman Baker MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA. The views expressed are those of Norman Baker, not of the service provider.
Local MP Objects to Polegate Homes Proposals
Local MP, Norman Baker, announced today that he had sent Wealden District Council two formal letters of objection to the proposals by Pelham Homes to build up to 2,200 homes on land to the east and west of the A22 at Polegate (Phase 1 - 1,000 homes and Phases 1 and 2 - 2,200 homes).
Mr Baker said: "I have so far received well over a hundred individual letters from constituents about this matter, virtually all opposing the proposals. There are a number of issues which cause me great concern and I have today written letters to Wealden District Council, objecting to both planning applications."
Mr Baker has formally objected on the following grounds:
- "In general terms, I am concerned that the level of development we in Sussex are being asked to take is putting great strain on our infrastructure, and building on brown field sites is generally preferable to using green field land.
- That the non-statutory Local Plan on which the application was based was never tested at a public Local Inquiry and consequently would have little weight in planning terms, particularly in the event of the application being refused and going to appeal. Even in the non-statutory Local Plan, provision was only made for 600 houses in the Phase 1 area and none in the Phase 2 area.
- That in rejecting the proposed Wilmington bypass in the form in which it was presented in the South Coast Multi-Modal Report, the Secretary of State gave as his reason the adverse impact of the scheme on the environment and on the Sussex Downs AONB. In my view, the proposed Folkington Link is over-engineered in terms of width and encroaches too far into the countryside.
- That the proposals would affect the setting of Wootton Manor (Grade 2* listed), its outbuildings (Grade 2 listed) and the park and garden of Wootton Manor (listed Grade 2 in 2005) would be destroyed, contrary to both PPG 15 and Local Plan policies EN 22 (3) and EN 23. Phase 2 of the proposals would also affect the setting of Sayerland House (Grade 2 listed).
- The development would be prominent in views from the chalk escarpment of the South Downs AONB and therefore from the proposed South Downs National Park.
- Phase 2 of the proposed development would erode the countryside gap between Polegate and Hailsham, contrary to Local Plan policy EN 17.
- I also have general concerns about the infrastructure required to cater for this development, in terms of the water supply and local GP and hospital medical facilities."
Mr Baker added: "I make it clear that I am not against all development in the area and indeed recognise that there can be community benefits from development, including the provision of new community facilities and more potential customers for our struggling High Street businesses. What is proposed there, however, is too large for Polegate to absorb in a sensible way. I have also asked Wealden to negotiate with the developers to extend the consultation period at least until the middle of September, as a number of people will be on holiday at this time and will not have had the opportunity to comment on the applications."