Councillor describes proposed Uckfield apartment design as "brutal"

On August 13, 2026, Wealden District Council’s Minors Planning Committee reviewed a proposal by Clearwater Land & New Homes Ltd and Sheet Anchor to build an eight-unit block on brownfield land at the rear of the High Street.

While council officers recommended the modern, flat-roofed development for approval, committee members argued that its contemporary style clashed heavily with Uckfield’s historic conservation area. 

Key Details of the Planning Debate

• The Design: The blueprint outlined a multi-level, flat-roofed building mixing single, two, and three-storey sections, featuring green roofs and eight off-street parking spaces. 
• The "Brutal" Objections: Councillor Johanna Howell (Conservative) put forward the successful motion to defer the application, explicitly stating: “I don't mind modern design... The issue is I find this brutal. I am trying to make sure you give people pride in place. I don't think this does that. And it is not in-keeping with the conservation area.” 
• Counter-arguments: Councillor Martyn Everitt (Green) voted against deferral, noting that because East Sussex Highways had already deemed the site access suitable, there were no valid planning-policy reasons left to refuse the application. 
• The Outcome: The committee voted to defer the decision so planning officers could negotiate an alternative, more sympathetic design with the developers. 

The site sits on the eastern side of Bellfarm Lane, directly behind the main High Street commercial zone