Don’t Urbanise the Downs campaign celebrates unanimous refusal of 86-house Nolands Farm development

Don’t Urbanise the Downs is delighted to report that Lewes District Council has unanimously refused permission for an 86-house development on the outskirts of Plumpton Green village. The scheme was roundly rejected by councillors on Wednesday evening (December 8).

The news gives Don’t Urbanise the Downs campaigners a real boost as they fight to stop Eton College’s plans for a far bigger development on adjacent land. Eton, one of the country’s wealthiest landowners, wants to build a huge 3,000-house new town at East Chiltington in idyllic countryside right on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Don’t Urbanise the Downs campaign founder Marc Munier said: “We are really thrilled that Lewes District Council has rejected this application. This demonstrates the importance of conserving the natural environment and shows that the fight against climate change is now taking centre stage. Housing developments in remote rural areas have a wholly negative impact on the landscape while doing nothing to meet local housing need. The core issue is the unrealistic targets set by central government that do nothing to help with our housing affordability crisis or crate affordable homes near infrastructure and jobs but simply support unsustainable profits for developers.

“Thanks to this latest vote by Lewes councillors, we are cautiously optimistic that the far larger Eton scheme will get similarly short shrift from our elected representatives.”

Lewes District Council planning officers earlier advised councillors to reject the scheme saying it would have “a detrimental impact on the character and appearance” of Plumpton Green village as well as the “wider countryside.” Council officers argued that the development would have an “unacceptable impact on areas or assets of significant importance” and cause “significant harm which would outweigh any benefit in addressing local housing need.” During the planning meeting, councillors noted the importance of listening to local opinion; planning permission for Nolands Farm had already been rejected in 2019 and did not form part of the Local Plan.

Local ward councillor Rob Banks added: “The fact that Lewes has rejected Nolands Farm yet again shows how unacceptable the neighbouring potential site owned by Eton college would be. If 86 houses here is deemed inappropriate, then building more than 3,000 houses at East Chiltington is very much the wrong thing in the wrong place.

“Nolands Farm would have meant unacceptable impact and pressure on the open countryside and the intrinsic rural character of Plumpton Green. The council's refusal clearly demonstrates how unsuitable Eton’s new town would be."

Plumpton Parish Council also fought hard against the Nolands Farm scheme, arguing that the Parish is essentially rural and lies within 1km of the South Downs National Park border. Parish councillors also noted that the scheme would have severely eroded the Park’s renowned dark skies status.