Last October we reported on a consultation meeting at the Tilling Green community centre with London-based developer, Plutus Estates, to build 77 new homes on the old Lower School site behind the Queen Adelaide pub in Ferry road.
After much discussion over flood risk, drainage and access, they have now submitted a more detailed plan for 72 units (including 29 flats) and 92 parking spaces. The Queen Adelaide, itself, and the adjacent row of houses would remain. This is very high density and the Rye Neighbourhood Plan (RNP) has recommended no more than 50 units for the site. Access would be from Ferry Road between the Queen Adelaide and the railway crossing.
According to the planning application no ‘affordable homes’ are currently scheduled to be part of the development.
The plans are due to be discussed at a special meeting of Rye Town Council at a date to be advised later this month (September) and are also due to go before the full planning committee at Rother District Council.
On the latest update from the RNP Steering Committee, there are several reservations raised, mainly resulting from the excess of dwellings over the recommended number of 50. These concern community support, such as medical services and education, doubts about foul water disposal in an area which already has known problems, adequate provision for parking and safe and suitable access on to Ferry Road and, of course, the lack of provision for an element (in theory, 30% or 21 units) of affordable housing, of which Rye is in need and which is a requirement for all developments in the Rother area of 10 dwellings or more. It also leaves open the question of the fate of the Queen Adelaide itself and the currently derelict cottages alongside (although Rye News understands that one of these has recently been sold).
In the 2014 Rother District Land Availability Assessment, Rye was required to add 402 homes to a total of over 6,000 new homes to be built in the Rother area as a whole by 2028. At that time some 200 homes were either being constructed or were committed. Since then more have been added to the list and in the July update to the RNP it was stated that only 120 homes were now needed to complete Rye’s commitment and of these 80% could be built at Valley Park, Freda Gardham, Rock Channel and Winchelsea Road. The Lower School site was not included (originally, this site had been intended for a supermarket). The mathematics, therefore suggest that either a total of 24 units only, need to be built on the Lower School site or, if 50 plus are built, then this will take pressure off the other sites.
However, in reality, as long as there is a piece of land available in or around the town, there will be pressure by either district or central government to build on it – a pressure that will increase with improved transport if or when HS1 finally comes to Rye.
Photo: Kenneth Bird
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
How many of these will be sold off to weekenders down from London.
I do think it is very important that affordable homes are included in any development. Preferably ones which can be reserved for essential workers, with links to the area. Preferably also on both combined buy/let and rental only terms. The neibourhood plan should be respected.
I feel sorry for the residents of the Udimore road as a combination of the proposed petrol station at the top of the road on the ridge and this development will make the road even more busy than it is now.
I do think the number of units needs to be reduced and a “realistic” amount of parking provided. This development (whilst needed) will inevitably put more strain on parking in Tillingham Avenue. We already have enough of a problem with bin lorries not being able to get through for 2 weeks, without even more cars parking along the narrow entrance.
Had hoped some of this land could have been used for additional parking for station and town. As we all know that during summer if you have to catch a train after 0700 there is good chance you won’t get a space in station car park on a Thursday.
Always lots of parking spaces in Gibbet Marsh Car Park, including Thursday! Just a 5-minute walk to the Station too, so a healthy option. And annual permit just £321.50.
Seems inevitable that this site will be (and should be) used for housing – at the moment it is just a blight on the landscape and thanks to district and county council inertia any chance of a more useful use (supermarket) faded away. The two issues for me are the access/exit directly at the rail crossing (highways issue) and lack of affordable (or affordable rent) dwellings: I must catch up with government policy on these. Remember you can only object on planning or highway issues not just whether you like it or not
Commenting again, I am sorry for the residents of Udimore Road/Cadborough Cliff who will find their road is hit by the double extra traffic created by a combination of the proposed petrol station at the junction with Valley Park and the exit for the new housing.
Unfortunately if you are aregular commuter Gibbet marsh is not an option as you can get caught on the otherside of crossing.
As Gibbet Marsh has been mentioned then would this not be a better place to build any residential development, thus enabling the Lower School Site to relieve the town and station’s current parking capacity issues?