The Ovingdean development

View of site looking west from Falmer Rd.

View of site looking south from Ovingdean Rd.

Aerial view

Outline planning application BH2016/05530 for the construction of 45 dwellings on greenfield land was refused permission on 23 May last year but the applicant appealed. The appeal was due to commence on 24 April but at a meeting on 7th February the planning committee decided not to defend its refusal at the appeal.

Based on legal advice the council has withdrawn two of its reasons for refusal. These are:

• Harm caused to setting of Ovingdean and Rottingdean Conservation areas and loss of gap between the villages. 
• Increase in traffic would have a harmful impact on the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

This leaves:

• Harmful impact on ecology and biodiversity.
• Overdevelopment and loss of local landscape character.      

as the only standing reasons for refusal. Weighing up the planning benefits the scheme would bring against these remaining reasons  they agreed that the Local Planning Authority should no longer defend the planning appeal. Unreasonably defending a planning appeal can lead to an award of costs.

A superseded plan showed the development clustered on the western edge of the site.