Pentland Homes, Broad Street update

Published: 23 January 2023

Pentland development on Etchinghill golf course

Residents will be aware that the planned developments either side of the golf course that were due to start last summer did not proceed. The Parish Council has been in regular communication with Pentland in the intervening period, and as some may now be aware, the company decided to postpone the start of construction work in order to seek consent on a revised plan for a larger number of smaller size houses. At the time of writing, Pentland is planning a public meeting to outline their new plans, so that everyone has a chance to see what is intended. The revised application for the Etchinghill site has already been submitted (ref 22/2091/FH on the FHDC Planning Portal). The revised application in respect of the site by the New Lyminge Surgery is understood to be imminent.

Our discussions with Pentland have focused on how the development can proceed without causing major disruption to our community. We are advised that the new plan for the site by New Lyminge Surgery should not involve the road closure that was envisaged last summer. Revised planning consent has not yet been obtained, so it is not certain that the development will proceed as requested. However, as consent was granted for the previous scheme, at the current time, the expectation is that the changes are likely to be approved, allowing development to begin in the Autumn of this year. This would be during the financial year ending 31 March 2024, and consequently we would receive the first payment of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) during this period.

CIL is a statutory payment required to be paid by a developer to the local community affected, based on the floor area of the houses to be built. As we did in the current year when the development was expected to begin in the summer of 2022, the Council has budgeted for this receipt, and that is why it is included in the Council budget for 2023/24. The levy has to be used on capital projects and is earmarked principally to overhaul the running track and skatepark on Jubilee Field, although no commitments will be made for this project to proceed until the receipt is certain. At the current time, the precise amount is still subject to some negotiation, but it is expected to exceed £100,000.