Hill Place Farm East Grinstead

Hill Place FarmEast Grinstead

Presentation to East Grinstead Town Council

Monday 4th August 2014

The presentation1. About Linden Homes2. Housing and planning policy context3. The site4. Constraints and opportunities5. Emerging proposals6. Site location7. Highways and access8. Public open space 9. Potential community benefits10. Next steps11. Questions

www.lindenhomes.co.uk/community/hillplacefarm

http://www.lindenhomes.co.uk/community/hillplacefarm

About Linden Homes• Fifth largest housebuilder• Part of the Galliford Try Group• Prides itself on delivering individual,

bespoke house designs• Award-winning housebuilder:

• Best Large Housebuilder 2013 at the Housebuilder Awards

• Housebuilder of the Year at the Ideal Home Blue Ribbon Awards 2014 and 2013



Housing and planning policy context• The current Mid Sussex Local Plan (2004) is out of date• The recent draft Mid Sussex District Plan (2013) was withdrawn

(earliest adoption now February 2016)• Government and national planning policy is seeking to significantly

boost house building• Mid Sussex District Council must meet its objectively assessed

housing need• East Grinstead is one of the three largest and sustainable

settlements in Mid Sussex• The site has previously been identified for housing development

(2005 West Sussex Structure Plan & 2009 South East Plan)



The site• Site measures 9.8 hectares

(25 acres)• Linden Homes controls

additional land as required for a SANG

• Linden Homes’ control covers land on either side of the Bluebell Railway

• Greenfield land, but not AONB or green belt



Constraints and opportunities



Emerging proposals• Full consultant team in place• Request for EIA Scoping Opinion currently with Mid Sussex District

Council• Approximately 200 dwellings• A range of house types and sizes, but a focus on family housing• Affordable housing to meet local needs• Significant green infrastructure



Site location• Situated in a sustainable location within

walking distance of numerous local amenities:

• Bus routes located on Garden Wood Road which would be connected via new pedestrian and cycle routes

1. Railway Station 850m (10-11 minutes walk)2. Sainsburys 600m (7-8 minutes walk)3. Waitrose 800m (10 minutes walk)4. Town Centre 1km (12-13 minutes walk)5. Meads Primary School 1.1km (13-14 minutes walk)6. Imberhorne School 2.3km (29-30 minutes walk)7. Leisure Centre 1.3km (14-15 minutes walk)



Highways and accessVehicular access• New priority junction onto Turner’s Hill Road• A development of 200 homes would generate approximately:

• AM peak 114 movements (30 in / 84 out)• PM peak 130 movements (80 in / 50 out)

• Two thirds (68%) likely to travel to and from East Grinstead• Detailed traffic surveys have been undertaken• “Development should only be prevented or refused on transport grounds where the

residual cumulative impacts of development are severe.” (NPPF, para 32)

Pedestrian access• Turner’s Hill Road (as part of the vehicular access)• Garden Wood Road (providing direct link to existing bus stops)• Connections to SANG utilising the railway underpass



Public open space• Public open space comprising:

• Children’s play space• Informal green space• SANG (suitable

alternative natural green space)



Potential community benefits• A direct investment of approximately £30

million into the local economy• The delivery of much needed new housing in

the area• A New Homes Bonus payment of more than

£1.5 million to Mid Sussex District Council and more than £375,000 to West Sussex County Council

• The creation of new jobs – 200 homes would require a workforce of 300 people*

• Contributions towards local infrastructure through a S106 agreement

• Opportunities for local people seeking apprenticeships in the building industry

*Professor Michael Ball, Reading University, The Labour Needs of Extra Housing Output (2005)



Next stepsDate Action

Autumn 2014 Community consultation

Autumn / Winter 2014

Submission of an outline planning application

Winter 2014 Continued discussion with EGTC, MSDC and statutory consultees

Spring 2015 Possible determination of the outline planning application



Questions



Documents

Hill Place Farm East Grinstead