Owlsbury Objections

Template A – Reconfirming your objection

For anyone who objected to the original Owlsbury scheme and wants to make clear the August 2026 amendments have not changed their view.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to reconfirm my objection to application WD/2025/0922/MEA, Land West of Uckfield – Owlsbury Farm.

I objected to the original scheme, and having reviewed Fairfax’s August 2026 amendments, I want to be clear: these changes do not address the reasons for my original objection. The main changes are that the scheme now proposes to reduce housing from 1,700 to 1,550 and also the buffers around the several Ancient Woodland areas have been adjusted, amongst other modifications, but the fundamental problem with this is that the basic concept of the “Neighbourhood” remains unchanged. The applicant has stated these amendments respond to the District Council’s comments, not to the objections raised by the public.

My objection stands on the following grounds:

– Unsustainable location: the site is west of the A22, remote from and outside the existing settlement of Uckfield, not within reasonable walking distance of its facilities and services, and Uckfield Community Technology College is oversubscribed. Uckfield also has no well-connected railway station and only infrequent train services.

– Severe and worsening transport impact: Uckfield High Street has already reached capacity, and the A22 and A272 cannot absorb the cumulative effect of this scheme alongside every other housing and commercial/industrial development in and around Uckfield and beyond (including proposals such as the new runway at Gatwick).

– Inadequate highway capacity: the A22 does not have adequate capacity for development on this scale, and the proposal still depends on people crossing what would become a 50 mph dual carriageway, with three ground-level crossings and no commitment to build a bridge – and no guarantee people would use one even if provided.

– Public safety risk: reliance on pelican crossings over a fast A22 dual carriageway, and flash/fast flooding risk from the River Uck, which flows through the site, particularly affecting the proposed recreational SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace).

– Despite adjusting the buffers, harm will still be caused to the several Ancient Woodland areas, which carry the highest level of protection under the National Planning Policy Framework, and harm also to the wider natural and historic environment, ecology, biodiversity and wildlife corridors linked to Ashdown Forest.

– Loss of farmland and landscape harm.

– No solution to the strategic issue of water supply, and no solution to sewage capacity, which is already over-capacity in the area.

These are substantial, long-standing objections. Minor amendments do not resolve them.

I would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this email and confirm that my objection has been received and registered against application WD/2025/0922/MEA.

Yours faithfully,

[Your full name]
[Your postal address]

If you’re short on time (and your email provider supports it), you can just click on the ‘Send Email Now’ link below to open prefilled emails ready to send, all you need to do is add your name and address to the bottom. Please check it has copied over correctly before sending.

Template B – Objecting for the first time

For anyone who has not objected to Owlsbury before.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to object to application WD/2025/0922/MEA, Land West of Uckfield – Owlsbury Farm.

In August 2026, Fairfax made amendments to this proposal – including decreasing the housing in this so-called “Neighbourhood” scheme from 1,700 to 1,550 and adjusting the buffers around the several Ancient Woodland areas. None of this addresses the fundamental problems with the scheme, although the applicant has confirmed these changes respond to the District Council’s comments, but not to the concerns raised by the public.

My objection is on the following grounds:

– Unsustainable location: the site is west of the A22, remote from and outside the existing settlement of Uckfield, not within reasonable walking distance of its facilities and services, and Uckfield Community Technology College is oversubscribed. Uckfield also has no well-connected railway station and only infrequent train services.

– Severe and worsening transport impact: Uckfield High Street has already reached capacity, and the A22 and A272 cannot absorb the cumulative effect of this scheme alongside every other housing and commercial/industrial development in and around Uckfield and beyond (including proposals such as the new runway at Gatwick).

– Inadequate highway capacity: the A22 does not have adequate capacity for development on this scale, and the proposal still depends on people crossing what would become a 50 mph dual carriageway, with three ground-level crossings and no commitment to build a bridge – and no guarantee people would use one even if provided.

– Public safety risk: reliance on pelican crossings over a fast A22 dual carriageway, and flash/fast flooding risk from the River Uck, which flows through the site, particularly affecting the proposed recreational SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace).

– Despite adjusting the buffers, harm will still be caused to the several Ancient Woodland areas, which carry the highest level of protection under the National Planning Policy Framework, and harm also to the wider natural and historic environment, ecology, biodiversity and wildlife corridors linked to Ashdown Forest.

– Loss of farmland and landscape harm.

– No solution to the strategic issue of water supply, and no solution to sewage capacity, which is already over-capacity in the area.

For these reasons I ask that this application be refused.

I would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this email and confirm that my objection has been received and registered against application WD/2025/0922/MEA.

Yours faithfully,

[Your full name]
[Your postal address]

If you’re short on time (and your email provider supports it), you can just click on the ‘Send Email Now’ link below to open prefilled emails ready to send, all you need to do is add your name and address to the bottom. Please check it has copied over correctly before sending.