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Notes of Mid Sussex Design Review Panel (B) 11 June 2019

Present: Neil Way (Chair), Mark Folkes, Alice-Rose Hoile, Phil Winch,
Richard Morrice, Jenny Lewin

In attendance: Will Dorman (MSDC Urban Designer)

EDF Energy, Wealden House, Lewes Road, Ashurst Wood

Description of the Scheme
Proposed new build residential development consisting of 54 units following the
demolition of all existing site buildings (current planning application DM/19/1025
following the refusal of the previous application DM/18/1548 for 71 units)

Presenters
Architect/Designer: Darren Page (Lytle Associates Architects)
Planning consultant: Frank Taylor
Developer: Steven Matthews (Ashgrove Homes Limited)

In attendance
Ward Councillor: John Belsey
Case officer: Steve King

The Panel’s Comments

The panel agreed the revised 54 unit scheme is a significant improvement upon the
previous 71 unit proposal. There is more space between the buildings allowing for
more soft landscaping and an open space that is well-positioned at the front of the
site where it is well-overlooked by building frontages. In addition the parking is less
dominant, and the elevations have been much improved with better detailing and
facing materials, and the incorporation of integrated balconies that also address
amenity concerns.

The backdrop of trees on the boundary also helps to soften the height and massing
of this comparatively dense development, and offset the hard surfacing required to
serve the large number of parking spaces necessary for this scale of development.

Nevertheless the buildings look too “block-like” and commercial, that risks giving the
development an impersonal character (although this may be partly to do with the way
they had been presented). This would be helped by more variety between the
buildings, both in terms of their massing and the introduction of softer materials such
as timber cladding. It was also felt that there needed to be more contrast between the
zinc cladding and brickwork on the blocks south of the open space.

The proximity of the existing building (referred to as the “Barn”) on the eastern
boundary to the proposed block (plots 7-12) was a concern, and a section is needed
to show this relationship.

There was a discussion about how the hard surfacing / parking could be further
softened, and it would be helpful if the spine road could be defined by an avenue of
trees. However it was accepted there was little scope for more planting because of
the space limitations at this density. It was nevertheless agreed that sufficient space
Bates No 000110