Celebrating Seaford

Lewes District Council are consulting on their draft Local Plan. This plan will determine the future of development, the economy and the environment in Seaford until 2042.

The plan will not only set out where there are currently available sites for development, but also the density of development on sites that will come forward later. This density is very high as Lewes District Council have determined Seaford has, or will have, all the necessary infrastructure to cope with the increase in population. Apart from a small number of named sites, the density is proposed to be a required minimum of 50 dwellings per hectare. In all probability the only way to achieve this will be the sub-division of existing houses or the demolition of buildings and replacement with blocks of flats.

Seaford needs more homes as there is a lack of affordable properties in our town. However, at a Lewes planning committee meeting on 1^st October a planning officer admitted that ‘there is a bit of a pattern here with coastal towns and flatted developments. It appears it is difficult to create financial headroom to provide affordable (housing).’  

What this means is that if a developer can prove it is not ‘financially viable’ for them to provide affordable housing, i.e. not in their interests, then they are permitted to build developments which will provide no affordable housing. It is debatable therefore whether these developments will meet the needs of the existing population of our town, and whether the infrastructure in the town can support the increase in population.

The Local Plan will also provide the opportunity to protect local green spaces. These spaces will need to be nominated, and evidence provided as to why they are important to the community. If accepted as a designated Local Green Space this will afford the site the same protection, in the eyes of planning law, as the Green Belt.

At the same Lewes District Council planning meeting where it was stated there is a problem providing affordable housing in the coastal towns, it also mentioned if a town has not documented their historical assets for protection, then they cannot be protected when a planning application is submitted. Therefore, we need to consider as a town which historical assets need to be protected.

This is your opportunity to comment on policies, site allocations, local green spaces etc within the draft Lewes Local Plan. Do not think you have the luxury of waiting until a planning application has been submitted. A slide from a Lewes District Council meeting clearly states ‘commenting on planning applications is often too late in the process to be meaningful’. In other words, now is your only chance to influence planning processes that will affect the town for many years.

Seaford Town Council are holding a number of facilitated public engagement sessions where you can raise your views to help inform their response on behalf of the town. You can also contact your local councillor if you feel you need their help.

The dates for the meetings are:

• 15^th January, Planning and Highways Committee 6:45 pm at Crossways Church to discuss the proposed policies.

• 21^st January, Public Engagement Session on proposed housing on the Chyngton Field site (the field at the start of the concrete road leading to South Hill barn, Seaford Head) 6:45pm at the Council Chamber, 37 Church Street.

• 26^th January, Public Engagement Session on proposed housing on the former site of St Johns School, Firle Road, 6:45pm at the Council Chamber, 37 Church Street.

• 2^nd February, Public Engagement Session on the proposed housing on Sutton Place and Talland Parade sites, 6:45pm at the Council Chamber, 37 Church Street.

Due to limited venue space, seats must be booked by emailing meetings@seafordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Lewes District Council are also holding a number of drop-in events where you will have the opportunity to see the proposals and speak to councillors and officers. The one in Seaford will be at the Downs Leisure Centre on 30^th January 5pm – 9pm. There is no need to book to go to this event.

Further information on the Local Plan consultation can be found here. Paper copies of the reports are available to view at The Downs Leisure Centre until the consultation ends.

It is important to submit your views directly to Lewes District Council on the consultation as well as giving your views to Seaford Town Council to inform their response.

The consultation ends on 28^th February at 6pm.

To hear how the policies will affect the town, both positively and negatively, it will be worth attending the Seaford Town Council Planning and Highways committee meeting on the 15^th January.