Homes plan for Isfield Camp

Plans have been submitted to build 39 homes at a former military camp in Isfield.

This is similar to a previous planning application which aimed to develop the Isfield Camp, in Station Road, as if it had evolved over a long period of time, as has happened in the rest of the village.

The difference is that office units have been removed from the plan and so has a play area. The mix of homes, including affordable housing, has been altered.

Documents before Wealden Council say: "These changes have been made to improve the viability of the development to enable it to be implemented."

Millwood Designer Homes propose that nine homes would be affordable and six would have detached office units where a small businesses could be run.

The existing access to the site from Station Road would be used but altered to improve visibility.

A statement to the council compared the value of the latest plan with that of the previous one and said:

"The comparative viabilities show that the 37 unit scheme has a residual land value of £284,000 whereas the site's existing use value is £875,000 and therefore redevelopment on this basis is not commercially viable.

"The current proposals produce a higher residual value of £989,000 which exceeds the site's existing use value by E114,000 giving the site owners a commercial basis on which to dispose of the site."

The statement goes on to say: "The housing proposed is deliverable and can realistically contribute to improved housing provision in the district, including realising affordable housing in a locality where there is a known need."

The planning application and associated documents can be seen on the Wealden Council website.