SABRE-OWL Autumn Update

Protecting Our Countryside – what’s happening This Season

As autumn arrives, things are really starting to happen on both the Owlsbury Farm development and the Ashdown Business Park expansion. Over the past few months SABRE has been working intensively behind the scenes — analysing new documents, coordinating expert input, speaking with councillors, and helping residents respond. Now, with multiple developments shifting at the same time and formal comments beginning to appear from Wealden’s own officers, we are entering a crucial phase. This update explains what’s been happening, what SABRE has been doing, and what the community needs to be ready for next.

Owlsbury Farm – What We Know So Far

More than 1,600 objections were submitted to Wealden District Council against the proposed 1,700-home development at Owlsbury Farm.

Wealden’s own officers have now begun releasing formal comments, and several are critical of the application.

Their feedback makes clear that:

The proposals require significant additional work by the applicant.
The scale of the development is likely to reduce, possibly from 1,700 to around 1,500 homes.
Revised plans will need to be submitted.
Public consultation will reopen — meaning we will all need to respond again.

This is far from a done deal, and your engagement continues to make a real difference.

Ashdown Business Park Expansion

There are early signs that a reduced version of this proposal may come forward. This could happen either by:

A revised planning application
or
Wealden’s upcoming Regulation 19 Local Plan reducing the land allocated for development.

Either way, the public will need to remain ready to review and respond.

This site sits next to the A22 bypass and, if combined with Owlsbury Farm, would represent a major expansion of development west of Uckfield.

Oakwood Park Polo Ground

Another new proposal is expected shortly for this site, located south of Ashdown Business Park. Early indications suggest yet more business and retail development, adding further cumulative pressure to the local landscape when considered alongside the Business Park and Owlsbury.

We will share more information as soon as the application is published.

Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan

Wealden’s Regulation 18 draft plan is expected to reappear soon, with another round of public consultation. This will outline the council’s development strategy across the district — and once again, your responses will be essential.

What SABRE-OWL Has Been Doing

In recent months, SABRE-OWL has been working proactively to challenge the proposals and raise awareness:

Mobilising public objections and collaborating with Parish Councils
Instructing solicitors to submit expert representations on Owlsbury and the Business Park
Commissioning transport consultants to challenge flawed traffic assessments
Providing clear summaries of the issues to District Councillors
Keeping residents informed and engaged at every step

We are fully prepared to continue doing so as new information emerges.

What Happens Next?

A great deal is in motion — planning applications, revised drawings, consultation documents and new Local Plan material. Some will appear within weeks; others may come later.

Much of the timing is outside our control, but how ready we are to respond is very much within our control.

We All Need to Be Ready

The pressures on this part of the Weald are increasing, with several large developments moving forward simultaneously.

Your willingness to respond, object, share information and stay alert is vital.
Together, we’ve already shaped the process — and together we will continue defending our countryside.

Thank you so much for your continued support.
We’ll update you again as soon as the next key documents are released.

Autumn update