Fighting NEW HOUSING
OFF Lodge Lane

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) announced plans for potential housing developments at 48 sites within the Park, in early 2025. Including to the east of Lodge Lane, Keymer, Hassocks.(30 houses) and more recently a further10.
We feel very strongly that this plan should be opposed

The 2nd Consultation Process FINISHES on 26th JUNE which will only look at very specific
comments - see below

PLEASE REGISTER your Concerns BY 26th June

How to Register your concerns

The specific concerns that we would highlight are

Housing needs
The SDNP Consultation document provides for 558 additional houses
as "Headroom" with NO justification.

Flooding – The site floods (both from the stream and surface water), and it’s getting worse.
National rules require the Council to steer development to lower-risk sites first – they have NOT done this test.
Flood Relief

The promised flood relief isn’t guaranteed, may not be affordable to deliver, and much of the work is on land outside the developer’s control.

"Development should be refused in National Parks other than in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that development is in the public interest” - this development is not.

Totally Unsuitable Road Infrastructure
- proposed access to and from the houses will be from Lodge Lane (on a bend) - already a "rat run"

Totally incompatible with the concept of National Parks - the SDNP was designated to protect landscapes, biodiversity and public access to green spaces

Breaking Local Gap Rules
It is essential we continue to fight to retain strategic gaps between our Villages e.g. Keymer and Ditchling
For more issues - SEE BELOW

What is

needs to be
emphasised

We have been advised by specialists that

An Inspector is not likely to
give much weight to any

any aspects that are not to do with the plan being NOT being prepared, justified, effective and consistent with National Policy

We need to be pushing in these

specific areas

Email planningpolicy@southdowns.gov.uk

Write to

Planning Policy Team,
South Downs Centre,
North Street, Midhurst,
West Sussex, GU29 9DH

Write to or email the local MP

Alison Bennett
House of Commons,
London, SW1A 0AA

or email her alison.bennett.mp@parliament.uk

Where specifically?
East of Lodge Lane
North East of Park Avenue
South of Beaconhurst

Where ? on the edge of Keymer
- towards Ditchling

The Developer's Plan - source SDNP Our thoughts!

Specifics

1. Unsuitable Road Infrastructure: Lodge Lane and the surrounding rural roads are already hazardous. Lodge Lane is used as a ‘rat run’, to Brighton and the A23, and the traffic levels are already unsustainable.
Parking on Lodge Lane, by the proposed access to the development, means that it is given the
N.B. The proposed entrance to the development would be on a bend!
Additional traffic in/out of the site (close to a blind bend) will make it even more dangerous for traffic and pedestrians/cyclists than Lodge Lane is already
3. Incompatible with National Park Protection: The SDNP was designated to protect landscapes, biodiversity, and public access to green spaces. Allowing developments on its borders sets a dangerous precedent and risks damaging the park’s ecological integrity and scenic beauty.

4. An Unjustified Housing Need: Recent population data suggests previous housing targets were based on outdated projections meaning large-scale development may no longer be necessary. Given the development of 500+ Houses in Ockley Lane and the development in Friar's Oak. are these 30 houses actually “needed” or just a developers opportunist approach.?

5. In breach of local Gap Policy
The site is next to the Keymer Conservation Area and is within the Hassocks NDP Local Gap (Policy | Local Gaps). Development would be in breach of the Local Gap Policy.

6. Pressure on Utilities and Resources: The area lacks key infrastructure such as mains sewerage and gas, making large-scale development impractical and costly. Water supply is already under strain, with frequent hosepipe bans and declining aquifer levels, meaning further development could exacerbate these issues.
7. Bio-diversity and Environmental Impact: The 2.3 hectare site is a haven for wildlife. Local residents have spotted many important species in/over the site in the past 12 months, such as tawny owls, red kites barn owls, buzzards, deer and bats.
In addition, the following species listed as Endangered have been observed in the site: grey partridge, grass snakes, swallows, skylarks, small tortoiseshell butterflies, chalk hill blue butterfly, large copper butterfly, and the broad/narrow bordered bee hawkmoth.

A special longer term aim
We would like to see the site protected for future generations, as a community woodland, community orchard, community meadow, where bio-diversity is protected and enhanced, rather than built on.

Other serious considerations.

1.Overburdened Schools:
Local primary and secondary schools in Hassocks and the surrounding area are already at capacity, with many families struggling to secure places. Continued provision of new dwellings will either force children to travel further for education or necessitate costly school expansions. (not currently planned.)

2.Air and Light Pollution:
Increased traffic from the development will lead to higher vehicle emissions, worsening air quality in a rural area that currently benefits from clean air. The South Downs National Park (SDNP) is a designated International Dark Sky Reserve, and additional light and air pollution will degrade its unique environmental status.

3.Cumulative Development - Enough is Enough!
Hassocks, Keymer, the surrounding villages, have already seen significant development in recent years, with infrastructure struggling to keep pace. Further building on greenfield sites will erode the character of the area/contribute to urban sprawl, going against principles of sustainable development

A Message to the SDNPA
We urge them to resist the pressure from developers and to do their job in protecting the purpose of this National Park. Houses should be built on brownfield sites and not at the cost of the rare and special environment in the National Park.
Many Residents do not want this development and will fight it.