No decision yet on plans to build up to 450 new homes

A decision was deferred on the planning application for the site at Lower Hoddern Farm - despite Lewes District Council officers recommending approval.

The main hall at The Meridian Centre was packed as more than 250 people attended Monday’s meeting of the Planning Applications Committee.

Security and the police were also in attendance to hear the contentious application which residents claim has ignored their wishes throughout.

Peacehaven Town Council objected to the scheme in April on the grounds of insufficient infrastructure, the risk of road collapse, over-subscribed schools and doctors’ surgeries not being able to take any more patients.

More than 1,200 written objections were received by the district council, including those of all the doctors based in the town.

District councillors voted two for and four against, with one abstention, when the Barratt Homes development was put to the vote. They went on to decide that the matter should come back to the table for further discussion, once more information had been received from East Sussex County Council.