Merlin Betts
Sandrock Bends, an ancient woodland and wildlife corridor to Sussex Weald, is being considered for housing by a private developer. Campaign group Save Sandrock Bends (SSB) say that the terrain and water infrastructure cannot cope with the removal of plants and building of houses, with their foundations and sewage needs. They suggest that construction could readily overwhelm the local drains and increase the risk of flooding downhill (see the flood risk report here). SSB emphasise that the land is also extremely valuable both environmentally and recreationally.
In 2023, the threat to the land seemed to come from ESCC, as it was seeking a potential purchaser for its share of the area. But now Gladman Developments claim that the land was earmarked by Hastings Borough Council in 2015, and say they will be submitting proposals according to the council’s Development Management Plan.
If successful, the development is likely to consist primarily (or exclusively) of private housing. Gladman Developments suggest that they will provide a share of affordable housing, but since they are a private developer, there are few if any regulations that actually require them to do this. Many other projects across the country, including the Archery Road development in St Leonards, have seen their affordable housing commitments discarded to save developers’ profits. The law currently permits such behaviour.
While Hastings is facing a housing crisis, it is unlikely that any of these proposed homes would be affordable for families and individuals on the housing list, even if they were priced at 80% of market rates. This is a move to take advantage of Hastings’ rising property prices, rather than solve our long-term housing issues.
If you want to find out more, or take action against the development, there’s a public meeting at St Helen’s Church on 24 April. Save Sandrock Bends and St Helen’s Park Preservation Society can update attendees and organise against the ill-advised plans. You might also look at www.savesandrockbends.co.uk/