Redevelopment of former nursing home site near Lindfield approved

Buxshalls House, to the west of Ardingly Road, was built in the Greek Revival style in the early 19th century and is surrounded by a number of other outbuildings.

Back in 2014 planning permission was granted to redevelop the site, but revised plans have been submitted to Mid Sussex District Council.

These would see alterations to the existing 19 residential units and the existing care home as well as the construction of nine new build dwellings.

In total 35 homes would be provided on the site.

An application for the works was approved by the council’s planning committee on Thursday (November 12).

The main house would be retained and refurbished to provide three dwelling houses and eight apartments.

Several existing buildings would be refurbished and extended alongside completely new properties.

Officers described how Buxshalls House would be ‘brought back to something like its original form’ with the removal of unoriginal and unsightly additions.

The scheme retains more of the outbuildings than the 2014 application.

The redevelopment would be all market housing as the developer has argued it would not be viable to provide any affordable units.

Andrew MacNaughton (Con, Ardingly and Balcombe) said: “We have been here so many times over the years, it’s looking as though this is probably the best one we have seen and I think we have to support this.”

Gary Marsh (Con, Ardingly and Balcombe), chairman of the committee, added: “What I really do like is they are going to bring that magnificent building back into use again.”