250-home outline scheme at Land North Of Pevensey Bay Road, Eastbourne

What was proposed

Outline permission was sought for up to 250 homes, with access approved and appearance, landscaping, scale and layout reserved for later.

“Report to: Planning Committee Date: 16 th December 2025 Application No: 230526 Location: Land north of Pevensey Bay Road, Eastbourne Proposal: Outline planning permission for the development of up to 250 dwellings (Use Class C3) including means of access into the site (not internal roads) and associated highway works with all other matters (relating to appearance, landscaping, scale and layout) reserved…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a large arable field outside Eastbourne’s settlement boundary, beside existing housing, roads, watercourses and areas at flood risk.

“The site comprises a large (approx. 22 hectare) broadly triangular arable field on rising ground to the north of the A259 (Pevensey Bay Road). Roughly a third of the way up the site from south to north, there is a ridge, beyond which the site level than begins to fall gently downward.”

“RAMSAR/Special Area of Conservation site reaches to within approx. 1 mile to the north-east of the site. No public rights of way cross the site and there are none in the immediate vicinity. There are no Listed Buildings are other heritage assets within the immediate surrounding area. The site is identified in the 2022 Eastbourne Land Availability Assessment as site LA45.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the site could accommodate the homes, flood risk could be managed, highways were acceptable and benefits outweighed localised landscape harm.

“As set out in the report, it is considered that the site has appropriate capacity to accommodate 250 dwellings along with any additional flood mitigation measures required. The development would provide significant benefits in the form of providing a mix of much needed housing, 30% of which would be affordable homes.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard speakers opposing and supporting the application, including a residents’ association representative, the applicant and a county councillor.

The committee vote

A proposal to follow the officer recommendation was seconded and approved by four votes to two.

“Councillor Sayers-Cooper put forward a proposal in line with the officer’s recommendation as set out in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Ansell and was put to a vote and carried. RESOLVED: by (4 votes to 2 against) That the application be granted subject to the conditions listed in the Officer’s report and a Section 106 legal agreement to secure 30% affordable housing provision; Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP); Local Equipped Areas of Play (LEAP);…”

Minutes