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Sigma Strategic Land – part of the West Sussex-based Sigma Homes Group – has submitted an Outline Planning application to Wealden District Council for the development of the 22-acre (9-Ha) Court Farm site in the village of Rotherfield, East Sussex. The plans are for 75 family homes, with an ‘above policy’ 40% of these new dwellings being proposed for affordable housing.
Located directly off the A2100, Sigma Homes’ site abuts Rotherfield on the western edge and is bordered by existing residential development on three sides. As with all land in Rotherfield, the site falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the proposed plans fully reflect the sensitivities of developing within this scenic settlement. The landscape and heritage-led planning application has been prepared by Sigma Strategic Land, along with Canterbury-based residential design specialist Clague Architects.
The overprovision in affordable housing will be assigned as First Homes to address the high local demand for those trying to access the property ladder. Delivering 75 homes will help meet the Wealden District’s significant deficit in its five-year housing land supply, as well as a sizeable unmet affordable housing need. The shortfall in the number of homes coming forward – compared to what is required in the District – is at least 1,579. There are also at least 532 local households that could benefit from the provision of a range of affordable housing.
The indicative housing mix for the Rotherfield scheme comprises 13 five-bedroom houses, 15 four-bedroom houses, 30 three-bedroom houses, and 17 two-bedroom houses. Vehicular access would be provided through the improvement of the existing priority junction access to Court Farm.
Wider community benefits would be provided with more than 12 acres (5-Ha) of new publicly accessible green space, including a community green, wildflower meadows and species-rich grassland. This will deliver a biodiversity net gain of 58% compared to the planning policy target of 10%. There will also be more hedgerows with the reinstatement of the historic field pattern.
The scheme will be complemented by pocket parks and circular recreational cycle and footpath links. This will enable the community to enjoy nature in a part of the landscape setting of Rotherfield, where currently right of access is limited to a perimeter footpath.
A public footpath running along the site’s southern boundary which connects to Court Meadow and provides easy access to the village centre, has been incorporated within the scheme’s design. This will provide pedestrian access to Rotherfield’s three pubs and cafes, corner shop, two schools, as well as a pharmacy and hairdresser.
Larger supermarkets and pubs, bars, and restaurants are located within nearby Crowborough. Its train station provides direct services to London Bridge and London Victoria, as well as south to Uckfield.
Chris East, Group Land Director at Sigma Strategic Land and the Sigma Homes Group, said: “Our vision for the development of Court Farm is to create a landscape-led new community featuring exceptional design. The design of our proposed homes will reflect and celebrate the contextual surroundings, befitting a prime site in the AONB. This is a highly sustainable mixed-tenure development proposal, which would benefit the future residents, as well as the local community as a whole.
“The site presents a number of opportunities which we are keen to enhance. New areas of public open space would be created to ensure this proposed development positively interfaces with the existing settlement through a new and distinctive green infrastructure network. We have also considered the height and layout of the development, so that the new homes can relate well to the village, as well as existing surrounding housing.
“While we are fully aware that planning applications are rarely popular with neighbours, we understand there is a significant number of vying first-time buyers in Rotherfield and the surrounding villages who are currently priced out of being able to live in the area where many of them have grown up and have existing family connections, who would welcome the opportunity to access affordably priced housing. We are keen to hear from them, so that their opinions and housing needs can be heard while this planning application is considered by Wealden District Council.”
Sigma’s development would be an architecturally sensitive low-density scheme with a true sense of place, based on a rural theme. It aims to increase ecological value and biodiversity, as well as benefiting the community by improving links and local access to amenities.
Based in Horsham, West Sussex, Sigma Homes specialises in using the sustainable construction method of timber framing. The SME housebuilder has a 10-year track record and is on course to deliver 200 homes per annum by 2026. It has recently become one of the first to be accepted onto the New Homes Quality Board, providing customers with further peace of mind during the buying process, through the backing of this stringent new Code.