A developer has submitted fresh plans to increase the density of a proposed housing estate in Buxted to 69 homes, following a successful legal battle to build 49 properties on the same site.
Brookworth (South East) Limited has lodged the new application with Wealden District Council, seeking to add 20 extra units to the development on land north of the A272. The move comes after the Planning Inspectorate overturned the council’s original refusal of a smaller 49-home scheme last year.
Under the new proposal, assigned reference WD/2026/1341/MAJ, the developer intends to reach the higher figure by utilising smaller and semi-detached housing types. This strategy is described as a “more efficient use” of the land, as it allows for the additional properties to be contained within the same built footprint already approved at appeal.
Background to the Appeal
The site has been the subject of significant planning scrutiny due to its proximity to Harrock House, a Grade II listed building with historical links to the family of the 19th-century poet William Wordsworth.
Wealden District Council had previously refused permission for 49 homes on the site, but that decision was challenged by the developer. On 20 June 2025, Planning Inspector J M Tweddle upheld the appeal (Ref: APP/C1435/W/24/3353821), granting outline permission and establishing the principle of residential development on the land.
In the appeal decision, the inspector weighed the “less than substantial harm” to the setting of the heritage asset against the public benefits of providing new housing in the district.
Current Status and Proposals
The latest application represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of dwellings compared to the scheme approved by the inspector. By shifting the housing mix toward smaller units, the developer argues it can meet local housing needs without expanding the geographic extent of the construction.
The application remains in the “pending” stage, and a final decision will be made by Wealden District Council’s planning committee or under delegated powers at a later date.
As part of the planning process, the council will consider whether the infrastructure can support 69 homes and whether the increased density alters the previous conclusions regarding the impact on the neighbouring listed Harrock House. Details regarding the exact proportion of affordable housing and financial contributions toward local services will be determined during the consultation period.
