Consultation on 16 new affordable homes on land behind 419 to 447 Bexhill Road

This consultation has now closed

This consultation has now closed and responses are being analysed.

Why are we consulting?

The council is inviting feedback on the proposed design of 16 new affordable homes on land that it owns behind 419 to 447 Bexhill Road.

In December 2019, outline planning permission was granted for the 16 homes, with access from Bexhill Road.

The council is now preparing a reserved matters planning application that will seek approval of the detailed design. This includes the layout and scale of the new development, its appearance (how it looks) and plans for landscaping.

We are proposing a mix of 8 x two-bedroom family houses and 8 x one-bedroom houses that will meet local housing needs. All the new homes will be sustainable, energy efficient and will have their own gardens. They will all be for affordable rent.

The design of the scheme has been landscape led so it will be sustainable and sensitive to the local context.

A 'fabric first' approach means that the new homes will be well insulated, resulting in a lower carbon footprint and cheaper bills for occupants.

We will include solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and a sustainable drainage system in the planning application. The council will also consider other sustainability measures such as air source heat pumps and a car club.

The new homes will be of a modular design and build. Modular homes are primarily constructed in a factory and then assembled on site meaning less disruption to local residents and road infrastructure.

The council is working with Boutique Modern who are designing and building the units. They produce high quality, sustainable new homes in their factory in Newhaven, using local supply chains and workers. You can see one of their finished schemes at Fort Road, Newhaven on their website.

We are planning to clad the new houses in charred timber grown from sustainable sources. This material is nontoxic, fully recyclable and highly durable making it a good choice for a coastal location.

Flood risk was examined at the outline planning application stage. As a result of this assessment, flood protection measures must be included in the development - such as raising new homes above ground level and using permeable surface materials on the site. The new houses will be designed to keep occupants safe without increasing flood risk for surrounding occupiers.

We are also proposing a 'rain garden' that would use planting/vegetation to help absorb surface water on the site.

Our plans include a small growing area that could, for example, include some fruit trees and raised beds. To the south of the site we propose to create a semi-natural communal space for residents, with native grasses suited to the coastal location.

There will be 20 resident car parking spaces and 32 cycle parking spaces to encourage sustainable modes of transport. The existing car parking area at the site will be resurfaced and landscaped and will continue to provide parking for local residents.

You can also see responses to some frequently asked questions about the scheme.

How can I comment?

This consultation closed on Monday 24 October 2022.

Consultation timeline

This consultation closed on Monday 24 October 2022.

What happens next?

The results will be used to inform the development of our Reserved Matters planning application.