Plans to build 85 homes on a greenfield site in Ovingdean should be turned down, according to a report due to be published tomorrow (Tuesday 20 January).
The report is about a planning application for the nine-acre site, known as Meadow Vale, off Ovingdean Road.
The application, which has attracted considerable local opposition, is scheduled to be considered by the Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Committee on Wednesday 28 January. The meeting is due to start at 2pm in Hove Town Hall.
One of the scheme’s opponents, Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, welcomed the news.
Mr Kirby said: “As someone who has campaigned for a long time against this proposal, I am obviously delighted that the application is recommended for refusal.
“This is a positive step forward and I encourage all members of the Planning Committee to listen to the recommendation.”
The planning application was made by Pegasus Planning Group on behalf of the developer Lightwood Strategic, which has offices in Esher, Surrey, and Mayfair in London.
A local group, Save Our Deans, has campaigned against the plans to build on the site. It is one of more than 40 sites on the “urban fringe” of Brighton and Hove identified by the council as suitable for consideration for housing.
Mr Kirby added: “In the event that the Planning Committee does make the wrong decision and grants the application, I have already written to the Planning Minister asking for him to intervene and consider the case personally.
“I have always been clear that the proposed development at this site is completely inappropriate.
“It remains my belief that the city council should be looking at brownfield sites and city centre sites where the existing infrastructure is in place to support development to deliver new housing in the city.”
The application seeks outline planning permission to build 85 homes with garages, cycle parking, new roads and pavements and changes to local road junctions. The houses would vary in size between one and four bedrooms.
The Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown, Nancy Platts, said: “I have consistently opposed the development at Meadow Vale which is causing huge concern to people living near by and I have worked hard to ensure that local voices are heard in this debate.
“Conservative MP Simon Kirby voted in 2011 for a change in planning policy which means council planning committees now have to abide by a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’.
“This has created a ‘free for all’ in our countryside.
“It is a great shame that he did not think ahead to the local ramifications of voting for the new law in Parliament at the time.”
On Friday (16 January) Mr Kirby wrote to the Planning Minister, Brandon Lewis, about Meadow Vale.
He said: “I am writing to you today to ask that the planning application in my constituency relating to Meadow View, application number BH2014/02589 be called in or, in the event of approval by the Planning Committee, to request that an article 25 directive be used to review the Brighton and Hove City Council decision.
“I appreciate that normally it would be right and proper that this is a council decision as devolving power is an important part of the government’s localism agenda.
“However, I have been contacted by literally thousands of concerned local residents who do not feel that the council is taking their views into account and many are worried about the council’s inaction in producing a robust City Plan which would give this valuable green space the protection that it clearly deserves.
“Many constituents are also worried that Brighton and Hove City Council may ignore government advice on the importance of protecting green sites and prioritising brownfield sites.
“I would like the government (if necessary) to review the decision in light of its own policy to protect valuable urban fringe sites and green wedges that separate existing separate villages (Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Woodingdean).
“I am not making this request lightly but have serious worries that the council is about to make the wrong decision and if this happens then I believe a review by government considering all the factors would be appropriate.
“As I have stated publicly all along, I believe development of this magnitude, at this site, would jeopardise the distinctive village feel of three villages, as well as placing an extra burden on local services and infrastructure, particularly local roads.
“I am very disappointed that the council have not produced a robust local plan.”
