Plans for eight new homes in Hadlow Down, near Uckfield

Eight new homes could be built in Hadlow Down at the junction of Hall Lane and Hut Lane.

A planning application says the land is outside the normal development boundary for Hadlow Down but considered to be a “brownfield” site.

The village hall is to the south of the site in Hall Lane and the Standen Mews development lies between the site and The New Inn public house on the A272.

The aim is to make the houses similar in style and size to those in nearby Standen Close.

It is proposed the section of land immediately opposite the village hall be given to the village for parking as an alternative to making two of the eight homes affordable.

A requirement to make two homes affordable, if enacted, “would prevent the viable development of the site,” says a document submitted with the planning application.

During the last few months the site has been cleared.

It was most recently used for storing vehicles but an agricultural contractor business was based there for eleven years until 1987.

Before the First World War the site hosted the Hadlow Down village market but after that Standens ran a scrapyard there and also stored cars until it was taken over by the applicant’s family in 1956.

The applicant is Mr P. Houseman of Hellingly.