Page 25 - John Belsey

SITE NAME Site 14: Wealden House LIC, Lewes Road Road RH19 3TB

• .. I I I .. I
Site Location & Description The site is the front part of the car park of the Wealden House Life Improvement Centre, a
Victorian mansion converted to office use.

Proposal Small housing development, possibly affordable dwellings on existing car park
Gross Area (Ha) 0.4 - whole of site excluding ancient woodland but including Manor House. Car park 0.08.

HSD site reference (if applicable) and 4 70 - included as part of the assessment for all land on Wealden House site
Overall Conclusion
Suitability for residential use at the site is established by two existing apartment blocks on the
site although lost employment land should be relocated or justified at application stage. There is
a reasonable prospect that the site will be developable in the 6-10 year period. Despite
detachment from the built-up area boundary, potential for conversation of existing buildings
meets criteria for Assessment as brownfield site.
Context
Surrounding Land Uses Residential to north (across Lewes Road). Two small apartment blocks to the west, on land
formerly part of the combined site. To the south of the site is the access drive to the two
apartment blocks and beyond that is a further parking area used by the LIC. The large building
used by EDF Energy adjoins the LIC to the west Ancient woodland to the south of combined
site.

Site Boundaries Tall trees and hedging to Lewes Road boundary, otherwise the car park is open to the rest of
the site.

Is the site Greenfield/ Brownfield/ Mix? Brownfield.
SO 3/Env
Existing/previous use Car park.

Site planning history 10/03412/ADV - permission for signs at entrance.
04/00390/COU - change of use from offices (B1) to cultural and wellness centre (D1 ).
05/01252/FU L - permission for 3 storey extension.
01/01611/FUL - permission for 14 2-bed fiats and car parking.
00/00687/FUL - permission for car park.

Suitability

Where is the site located in relation to the Outside.
built up area of the village?
SO 1/Env
How would the development of this site With apartment blocks on the adjacent site and other residential development in the Lewes
relate to the surrounding uses? Road, residential development would relate well.
Impact of proposed use, design and
scale of the development
How is the site currently accessed? Is it Driveway onto the Lewes Road (A22).
accessible from the Highway network?
SO 81Env
Proximity to community facilities and It is necessary to cross the A22 to reach village facilities, but there are pavements along the
services route. Possible to walk to the school along pavements although it is some distance and the A22
SO 10/Soc, 111Soc and other roads would need to be crossed. Close to public transport links (bus stop) on A22.

Characteristics which may affect Site is level.
development on the site:
Views onto site from Lewes Road screened by thick hedging, although some might have to be
Topography removed to create space on site. Site is partially overlooked by one block of fiats and the LIC
Views and view out of the site would be towards these properties.

AWNP SA Update Report September 2015 83