Uckfield 1,000 homes site exhibition on Saturday

Uckfield residents and business people will be able to visit an exhibition on Saturday to see how the town could be expanded over the next 20 years.

The planning authority, Wealden District Council, has suggested 12 strategic development sites across the whole of its area.

One of those is land to the west of Uckfield where a thousand homes could be built over the life of the plan.

Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Planning and Development at Wealden District Council, said: “We are seeking people’s views about where some of the major housing developments of the next 20 years should take place.

"Our core strategy has identified suitable areas for new housing. This strategic sites consultation will enable local people to give their views about the detailed siting of those new homes and the supporting infrastructure to go with them."

He added: "Without the protection provided by an approved core strategy we could be forced to allow housing developments all over Wealden. We are already seeing growing interest from developers looking for planning permission outside these strategic areas."

The council said there was a shortage of smaller one and two bedroom houses, particularly in the north of the district, whereas in the south, there is a need for some more family homes.

The exhibition will be in the Ashdown Room of the Civic Centre on Saturday (February 11) from 10am to 1pm.

You can also take part in the consultation online and view the site options being considered. Visit the Wealden website and follow the links from the home page.

Copies of the strategic sites proposals can also be seen at Wealden District Council's Crowborough offices and Hailsham Customer Help Point and Prospects House, at the public library in Uckfield and at the parish and town council offices in Maresfield and Uckfield.

The other 11 proposed strategic development areas in Wealden are: