On 2 Jul 2015 at 10:03am John Stockdale wrote:
The group meeting for the Lewes Three-day Design Forum in the Town Hall have stuck up a notice on the disused railway line reading: “Could a housing development go here if all existing woodland is carefully protected?” This where the Old Malling Farm site would be accessed. This was suggested as a possible site for 220 houses in an early draft for the new Local Plan. It was blocked by the National Park but its exclusion was challenged by the Inspector and it's back in play again. Unfortunately the notice doesn't explain that those with views about this scheme can express them at an open meeting tonight in the Town Hall at 7.30 or by emailing antonia@feria-urbanism.eu. They have probably stuck notices up at the other 35 suggested sites in the Town. Use the link below to download Task Sheets from the Visioning Event to see the list. The list includes all the sites suggested. Some are already in play and others are fairly fanciful.
Check it out here »
On 2 Jul 2015 at 10:21am townie wrote:
What i love is all these "antis" go back home after their demonstrations. And where is "home" ? A cave maybe? a treehouse? what about an underground tunnel?.
Oh no, they all go back to their 3 bed semis in suburbia........which used to be woodland before they were built.
A fantastic example of "im alright Jack"
On 2 Jul 2015 at 10:30am Malling resident wrote:
This will only work if it is affordable housing, even better if they are offered to locals who currently rent first! but I doubt it, they will probably be extortionate in price and totally out of reach for those that currently rent. It won't be long before many locals are forced out of Lewes due to the high cost of renting and the lack of affordable housing.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 1:00pm Hmm wrote:
Thanks John. I tried to download from the site, but failed. Lots of action photos of people discussing/ drawing but little info. Web site needs to be a bit more informative and/ or easy to view. Anyway I hope lots of people go to the meeting tonight and make comments online to the consultancy company etc.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 4:15pm trooper wrote:
@Malling resident Good post, total agreement. I would say that in conservation terms "Lewes Locals" are an endangered species,Sussex born and bred.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 4:55pm Nimby wrote:
I think it should be known that both John Stockdale and the chair of Friends of Lewes, Robert Cheeseman, live in the Old Malling estate so will be affected by a development on the Old Malling Farm field. There are residents of the small Malling Deanery enclave that are also trying to stop it. This is another example of 'I'm alright Jack'.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 6:21pm Horseman7 wrote:
Robert Cheeseman lives in New Malling. Queens Road etc = Old Malling. Old Malling Way etc = New Malling.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 7:45pm Sussex Jim wrote:
Lewes DC should be looking to make land available for a group self-build. This type of scheme was popular in the eighties, when a group of people consisting of some building tradesmen and other general workers built their own homes on either a commercially purchased plot or one supplied at a reduced price by the Council.
All members were expected to be in employment and able to qualify for a mortgage in order to buy their house at the finish of the scheme. And provide their labour at weekends and three evenings a week. They end up with an affordable house at no cost to the taxpayer.
I have been there and done that; it is not easy to give up about 18 months of spare time and still work- but it can set you up for life in the housing department.
On 2 Jul 2015 at 7:51pm Jack wrote:
If Hastings is the armpit of Sussex then Lewes and Alfriston are the buttocks
On 2 Jul 2015 at 9:57pm Nimby wrote:
My mistake - New Malling. Very confusing!
On 3 Jul 2015 at 12:34am Belladonna wrote:
Sussex Jim for the first time ever I agree with you. There was a 'grand design' programme several years ago where a group of people on low incomes did exactly that - a small cul de sac on the edge of Brighton and about 10 Eco self builds. V hard work but a great way to get a cheaper home.
On 3 Jul 2015 at 6:08am Horseman7 wrote:
I have a feeling that the houses in Waite Close, and adjacent properties of the same style in Spences Lane, were self build, constructed about 30 years ago.
Are you following Nimby? These were new houses in Old Malling. You're allowed to be confused - i was correcting you for the sake of clarity.
A splendid idea to do more of this Sussex Jim.
On 3 Jul 2015 at 8:44am Nimby wrote:
Thank you Horseman7. It's the Old Malling Way road name that confused me. Anyway, the issue about the development is going to be interesting. I was told last night that one of the signs that John Stockdale referred to has been put up outside the church opposite Malling Deanery. Clearly the local Christians aren't agonising over the housing shortage, but then no doubt they are all nicely housed themselves!
On 3 Jul 2015 at 2:32pm Curious wrote:
If it's the field on the west of the old railway line that usually has a decent crop in it, I don't think it's ever a good idea to build on productive farmland. We're still an island, with a growing population, and basically we neeed to be able to feed ourselves. Once farmland has gone, we'll never get it back again.
On 5 Jul 2015 at 9:20am Belladonna wrote:
Can anyone post a google map link that identifies the land concerned ? Does it run down to the river ? John Stockdale ?
If it's not brownfield site and in flood zone it's surely unlikely to get planning?