Access point to 30 new homes described as '˜dangerous'

Outline planning permission for 30 new two bedroom flats on land south of Old Rocky Lane was approved by Mid Sussex District Council’s Planning Committee B back in May 2016.

Of the 30 flats, nine are listed as affordable reaching the requirement of 30 per cent affordable homes on site.

The nine affordable flats are proposed to be located within one of the three blocks.

The application also included a new access point for vehicles from the Old Rocky Lane site, 41 car park spaces, and 64 cycle storage spaces.

Members of the same planning committee met last night to approve the layout, scale, appearance, and landscape of the three tower blocks.

Haywards Heath resident Karen Edwards – who objected to the original planning application – said the access point to the site along Old Rocky Lane was ‘dangerous’ for cyclists and pedestrians.

She said: “The application is for 30 news homes and only provides 41 car parking spaces.

“These are two bedroom flats meaning there might be two cars per flat. This would mean 60 cars going in and out of the site.

“This is not safe for pedestrians or cyclists.

“We live nearby and the headlights from these cars will shine into the front of the neighbouring properties, not the back as stated in the application.”

A number of committee members also expressed their concerns for the access to the site and asked the planning officers to consider writing to West Sussex County Council’s highways department for clarification.

Nick Rogers, development manager, said: “We will write a letter to the county council to make sure Old Rocky Lane is to be used solely as an access point to the site.

“We will ask them to make it clear to other road users that it is not a normal road and should only be used as a way to get to the site of the new homes.”

Councillor Robert Salisbury, conservative, for the Cuckfield ward, expressed his support for the development.

He said: “I have my concerns when it comes to the number of parking spaces and I have issues with the access point but, as we are not here to discuss that issue tonight, I offer it my full support.

“I think this is a brilliant development.

“The developer is a local man who wants to build more homes locally. I think that is a great thing and we should support that.”
Members voted unanimously in favour to approve the layout, scale, appearance and landscape of the three approved blocks.

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