'Once you've built on that land, it's gone'

Resident Carole Elliott has aired concerns over proposals to build over a viewpoint of the Seven Sisters

Proposals to build housing on a field bordering the Seven Sisters Country Park has drawn criticism from Seaford residents.

Lewes District Council has earmarked land south of Chyngton Way, Seaford, for 40 houses in plans which are currently under consultation.

The site is near the South Hill Barn car park, which is popular for tourists going to see the Seven Sisters and is currently designated as a local green space.

The council said it is consulting with residents on the draft plan and will hold another consultation in 2026.

Seaford resident Carole Elliott has lived in Chyngton Way for more than 40 years.

She said there are concerns houses could impact the view of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs.

"It just needs keeping for future generations," she said.

"Once you've built on that land you can't get it back - it's gone forever."

Ms Elliott said the site is already busy from vans of tourists and further houses may cause road safety concerns.

She said: "Partly it would be unsafe for pedestrians, dog walkers and other traffic.

"It's a narrow bridle road where you can only get one car through at a time and people have to wait."

Another resident, Martin Wilyman, said there is a need for housing locally but the site is not suitable for the kind of people who need it.

He suggested there are plenty of other brownfield sites which would be more appropriate.

"It would just be devastating to have houses built here when there's so many other sites in Seaford which could offer the potential for housing," he said.

He added the plans would be an "eyesore" for the beauty spot.

"It's the equivalent of Stonehenge up there," he said.

"You wouldn't even think of building houses next to Stonehenge and this is what they are planning to do at the moment."

The field which is earmarked for building is used as a viewpoint to see the Seven Sisters cliffs

A spokeswoman for Lewes District Council said opinions from local residents are being sought to form a new local plan.

The consultation - which ends on 28 February - has already received thousands of submissions, said the council.