The draft Local Plan from Lewes District Council is now out for consultation.
The housing figures for Ringmer are hidden deep inside and are difficult to find.
They propose doubling the size of Ringmer Village and trebling the size of Broyleside...
...but with NO extra infrastructure
URGENT - Local Plan consultation meeting in the village hall Sat 7 Feb 10.00 - 14.00.
Please come!
Turnpike Farm
We are already fighting the Catesby application to build 140 houses at Howells Bank Farm, off Broyle Lane, and now we are hit with yet another threat to Broyleside – a proposal for a further 180 houses north of Turnpike Farm on The Broyle.
This development alone would increase size of Broyleside by 40-50%
The proposed site is not in a sustainable location.
The existing village infrastructure is insufficient and this development proposes no significant upgrades.
PLEASE object using the following guidance which focuses on arguments most likely to succeed – if you’ve already objected you can still submit a new one. The sooner the better as it may go before the planning committee as early as September.
- Broyleside is a separate and distinct community, defined in the draft local plan as a local village. The proposed development of 180 homes is far too large, out of proportion as an add-on to the existing Broyleside settlement. The addition of 180 homes would result in a 40-50% increase in size of this ‘local village’.
- There are no schools or shops or facilities in Broyleside which families need to access on a daily basis. The proposed site is not in a sustainable location; too far from Ringmer village centre. Walking distances to village amenities are too long to be practical e.g. Village shop (2.1km), GP Surgery (2.1km), Ringmer Primary School (1.8km). There is no safe cycle route for children from the site to Ringmer Primary School or to Ringmer village. It would be dangerous for a child to attempt to cycle along the B2192. The census data on car ownership shows 1.5-2.0 cars per household for all villages including Ringmer. This development would result in 270-360 extra cars on the roads.
- The existing infrastructure in Ringmer is insufficient to cope with the hundreds of new homes already under construction or with planning permission, let alone the additional 180 proposed in this application.
- Number of sewage spills from Ringmer Sewage Works into Glynde Reach has risen from low 60s in 2021 and 2022 to low 100s in 2023 and 2024. There is no plan by Southern Water for an upgrade despite hundreds of new homes in the process of being built or with approval already. Southern Water have stated that there is capacity to join the new homes to the sewage network in terms of flow rate but do not give any guarantee about sewage spills. Without a significant upgrade increased pollution at Glynde Reach is inevitable and unacceptable.
- Ringmer Primary and Nursery School does not have capacity for the additional children which would result from this development. Kings Academy could cope with the numbers but there would be a knock-on effect for children from neighbouring villages who could no longer be accommodated.
How to Submit an Objection
How to submit an online objection to a planning application using the Planning Portal
Step 1: Type Lewes planning applications search into your search engine to find the Council’s Homepage
Step 2: On Homepage click on Search and View Planning Applications
Step 3: Scroll down, Click box to confirm you’ve read terms and conditions. Click Continue.
Step 4: You are now at the Planning Portal. Enter the relevant application number (e.g. LW/25/0391 for Land North of Turnpike Farm as shown below and click Search
Step 5: You are now at the Application Summary page. Click on Make a comment
Step 6: Fill in your details. Click Object (unless you have a different stance). Tick ALL the ‘reason’ boxes that apply (these are counted). Type in your comments using our guidance – but in your own words..
Step 7: Click Submit. You should receive a receipt.
Your objection is now recorded on the planning portal and will appear as ‘Representation object online LDC PLAP (public)’.
How to read a planning application or read other people’s comments
Return to the Application Summary (Step 5 above).
Click on Documents
You will see all the relevant documents, most recent at the top
The actual application documents are submitted first; scroll down to the bottom to see them.
The most important application documents are the site plans and Design & Access statement.
Click on the PLAP documents to see comments by members of the public.
If you have objected via the planning portal your submission is visible here.
Concerned about the future of Ringmer?
We have a plan to fight for it. Donate today to support the work of RAGE. We are fundraising to support organisational running costs, a signage campaign, and consultation fees for expert advice and support.
The threats to our village and countryside are already significant
Ringmer has exceeded its Original Lewes Local Plan target of 385 homes which was suppose to take us to 2030
Hundreds of additional homes beyond the above number have been allowed on appeal by speculative developers.
Now the Council are proposing that Ringmer, a village of approx 2000 homes, build an extra 3500 new homes.
There is no mention of any new infrastructure or upgrades to local service
We need you to join us, to make our voices heard
Join the campaign and encourage family, friends and neighbours to join us too. By joining you will be kept up-to-date with what’s happening and supported in making your voice heard.
Councillor Support - RE Housing Applications
Johnny Denis
"I remain opposed to these inappropriate green field developments which aim to increase the number of homes but to do so at significant cost to the environment and amenity and without the necessary infrastructure to support them. The very opposite of sustainable development. I am pleased to support this campaign."
Emily O'Brien
"As a ward councillor for Ringmer I am fully behind the campaign. I am also busy campaigning nationally on our flawed and broken planning system. I urge the government to abandon the flawed system of housing targets and loopholes like the ‘5 year rule’ for local plans, which are allowing developers to concrete over our countryside"
Which planning applications can I comment on now?
Have your say!
Current Applications
Howells Bank Farm, Broyle Lane
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS NOW - APPLICATION LIVE
The Orchards, Uckfield Road
Refused - Planning committee and appeal
Rangers Farm, Chamberlaines Lane ATTEMPT 1 - REFUSED
Refused by Lewes Planning Committee on 8 December 2021. Applicants subsequently submitted a modified application (LW/22/0104) for 68 homes on the same site without any community facilities.
Rangers Farm, Chamberlaines Lane ATTEMPT 2 - APPEAL REFUSED
Refused by Lewes Planning Committee 27 April 2022 for the second time.
The developer appealed. The appeal was heard at a one day hearing on 22 Nov 2022.
The outcome was the appeal was dismissed.
Gleesons Harrisons Lane Attempt 1
Land owned by Glyndebourne.
Refused by Planning Officers at Lewes District Council . The planning officer recommended refusal which was in line with the Parish Council's opinion.
Refused at appeal.
Gleesons Harrisons Lane Attempt 2
Land owned by Glyndebourne.
Second bite of the cherry by salami slicing the site. Refused by council.
Refused at appeal. No doubt they will be back.
Planning Granted
Averys, Uckfield Road
Refused by dempcratic planning committee.
Planning inspectorate decided to allow appeal.
Croudace, Broyle Gate Farm
Developer went direct to Appeal rather than democratic LDC Planning Committee.
The planning inspector decided to allow the appeal.
Ashill Regen, Lower Lodge Farm LW/22/0255
Refused by delegated powers.
The council collapsed in their defence of this site and so it was subsequently allowed on appeal.
Thakeham Homes, Bishops Lane
UPDATE - 5 May 2022
Unanimous Planning Committee voted to refuse permission for this development.
The development was allowed on appeal.
BoKlok site, Lower Lodge Farm
LW/22/0282
Dec 2022 - Rejected by Planning Committee.
Jan 2024 - went to appeal
Current - Won on appeal.
Thakeham 2
Opposite Kings College
LW/23/0752
The elected district council were clearly against this application at the planning committee meeting. However, having deferred the matter for a second hearing, allowed it through. No doubt through fear of an appeal being based almost purely on housing numbers across the country rather than suitability and forming a local plan. Regarding suitability it is amazing that this location, in 2018 was red rated by council officials - this means the location is "Not Deliverable or Developable - Not Suitable". With no changes to the location it has somehow been deemed suitable! How can we have any confidence in any land ratings or assessment by officials?
Make your views known to Lewes DC Planning Committee
Click here for a guide to using the Planning Portal to submit an objection. It’s easy, don’t be daunted!
Use the links to the current threats for advice on how to argue against specific proposals.
The Original Neighbourhood Plan
Ringmer’s Neighbourhood Plan was developed by the people of Ringmer, with the Planning Committee of Ringmer Parish Council acting as the steering group. Its origins lie in the Ringmer Village Plan, prepared back in 2003, and its subsequent strategies for employment and residential development. You can view the full plan on the Ringmer Parish Website. Below are the Four Key Principles from this plan
3.1 Ringmer is, and should stay, a village
Ringmer is a large parish with two main settlements, Ringmer village and the Broyleside. The surrounding countryside is highly valued and extensively used by residents, and includes a significant rural population. Ringmer village has a good range of services. Despite its population being larger than many small towns, Ringmer maintains a ‘village feel’, and this is prized by residents as a key asset. ‘Village feel’ includes both landscape and social aspects.
3.2 Ringmer should regain sustainability
Up to the mid-1960s Ringmer was a large but sustainable village community. The predominant reason for living in Ringmer was that you were employed in Ringmer. Since then planned changes have doubled the size of the village by allowing commuter development, while the major local employer closed in the 1980s. Commuting from Ringmer has become far more ambitious and extensive than was ever envisaged. This Neighbourhood Plan will seek to redirect the community towards sustainability by (a) increasing employment opportunities within Ringmer and (b) ensuring that new housing is on a scale and of a type to meet village need.
3.3 Ringmer should be a balanced, healthy and inclusive community
There was serious concern, expressed in the 2003 Village Plan, that in the last decades of the 20th century the Ringmer community became unbalanced. The traditionally high proportion of affordable housing was greatly reduced, and young families were priced out of the village housing market. Recruitment to the village primary school plummeted. The 2003 Village Plan sought to correct this, with partial success – the primary school is now full again. This Neighbourhood Plan will seek to ensure that Ringmer returns to being a fully balanced, healthy and inclusive community.
3.4 Ringmer and the South Downs National Park
After hearing detailed evidence, the Inspector drew the National Park boundary tightly around the south-east and west boundaries of Ringmer village, leaving the parish partly within and partly outside the SDNP, but almost all residents living outside the boundary. This Neighbourhood Plan will include policies to respect this decision, ensuring that only development that supports the National Park purposes and duty takes place within the Ringmer section of the SDNP.