Decision due on housing near High Weald

The developer says 10 of the 26 homes will be affordable

Plans for a housing development on the edge of Hastings, East Sussex, are set to go in front of councillors, with officers recommending they be approved.

On Wednesday Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee is expected to consider proposals from Jerboa Homes Limited to build 26 properties on land to the west of Rock Lane, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The proposals follow on from an application from the same developer in 2020, which was refused primarily because of concerns around its potential impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The development would be expected to include 10 affordable homes.

In the report, a council planning spokesperson said: “The provision of 26 residential units to housing land supply, given the scale of the council’s housing requirement, would play a significant role in reaching the target of 481 homes per year.

“Overall, officers consider that the significant benefits in terms of the provision of housing and affordable housing, and low level benefits in terms of biodiversity enhancements would not be outweighed by the negative impacts of the development."

This view is not shared by objectors, who argue the scheme would have an unacceptable impact on infrastructure and result in loss of green space.

The council said it had received 45 letters of objection from 42 addresses.

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