02/06/2026
Great news - over 70 people have now lodged their objection to the development at the Village Hall - but we need more of you to do this. The process is really easy and probably won't take more than half an hour. Use the QR code to take yourself straight into the right page and use the points bellow to help you outline why you think this is a bad idea. Please share to friends and other local groups.
Proposed development at the Village Hall – Planning application LW/26/0181
The Parish Council believes that this development will be detrimental for Barcombe. If you feel the same, it is important that we all communicate this to Lewes District Council (LDC) by the end of June (deadline extended). Please use these notes and your own thoughts to complete your objection.
• A key objection relates to the viability of the hall itself if the view is interrupted. Currently weddings are held there as well as yoga, dance and sound bath sessions, all of which rely on the view to draw bookings. The withdrawal of these, especially during the construction phase, would severely compromise the financial viability of the hall.
• The hall plays an important part in village life, providing a venue for the local nursery school, groups and clubs and private parties. The village is proud of this award winning resource and values it.
• We are all aware that there is a tendency for people to exceed the 30 mph limit when they cross the village boundary at the Village Hall. This raises safety concerns as we will have access points at the Blackcurrant Field, the Village Hall, Mongers Mead, Barcombe Place AND the new development. This needs to be considered carefully, especially as nursery school children are being delivered to the hall every day.
• Public transport services are poor for the village which means new residents will inevitably drive cars, putting pressure on the rural roads making this an unsustainable location for housing, contrary to national and local planning policies.
• LDC/central Govt have already approved 107 houses in the village (Hillside – 26, Blackcurrant Field – 70, Bridgelands – 6, Camoys Court Farm - outline permission for 5 houses). Approving this development would take that up to 132. Currently there are approx. 450 dwellings in the parish. This would increase the number by almost a quarter. The combined scale of expansion is disproportionate to the historic form and population of the village.
• No changes to local amenities are planned (i.e school places, road infrastructure, Drs surgery, bus services) and as a result, pressure upon existing services will increase.
• The proposed site lies outside the Barcombe Cross boundary and the application would effectively mean building in the countryside, contrary to national policies and Lewes council’s spatial strategy in the new Local Plan. This boundary is important for defining the rural edge and landscape setting of the village.
Use the QR code below to directly access the LDC planning portal to make your comments. Click on ‘comments’ and fill in your points.
For further advice go to Barcombeparish.gov.uk/planning/planning help/How to comment on a planning application. Your comments are important and could make all the difference!
