New plans for St Michael's Convent site in Uckfield
.jpg "New plans for St Michael's Convent site in Uckfield")
Plans to build flats 30 flats on the former St Michael’s Convent site in Newtown, Uckfield, have been abandoned.
Instead a proposal for 14 houses – 11 of them with five bedrooms and three with four bedrooms - has been submitted to Wealden District Council.
There is no mention of building a new nursery at St Philip’s School in the new planning application.
Permission was given in October 2009 to demolish St Michael’s Convent to make way for a new nursery annexed to St Philip’s Catholic Primary School.
Approval was also given for 30 flats to be built in two blocks, one at the front of the site and one at the back, plus one house.
St Michael’s Convent and the old nursery school adjoining it have now been demolished.
The latest planning application, is to demolish three remaining houses on the site and build 14 homes with associated parking/double garages.
Provision would also be made for 12 parking spaces for school staff and a cycle store for 20 cycles used by pupils.
The land is owned by the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton which bought it from the Sisters of Mercy.
Documents submitted with the application say any land sold by the diocese must be at best market value.
The current economic downturn and slow housing market meant there was no viable interest in the flats scheme due to lack of demand.
“Therefore, this planning application is submitted to re-address the residential scheme with a view of maximising the site’s potential value, given the current market forces.”
Four detached five-bedroom houses would face Newtown. Three more would face Old Timbers Lane. The remainder would be set back in the site where the St Gregory’s house currently stands.
“The houses have been sited away from the school as far as possible to prevent habitable rooms directly overlooking the school grounds and play areas,” say the documents.
There would be a one way road on to the school site from Newtown and vehicles would exit through the housing development on to Old Timbers Lane.
Vehicles entering and leaving the new housing development would do so via Old Timbers Lane.
A gated barrier would prevent access from the residential development to the church and school.
The planning application, number WD/2011/1776/MAJ, with site plans and associated documents can be seen on the Wealden Council website.
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(Added to site Friday, August 26th, 2011)
