Our fight against the Owlsbury Farm neighbourhood development
A severe threat of 1,500 houses on a site of 413 acres of the Wealden countryside
The Owlsbury planning application has officially been submitted to Wealden. Further amendments have subsequently been submitted in August 2026. But the fundamental principles of the scheme remain unchanged.
OBJECT AGAIN BEFORE 27TH SEPTEMBER 2026
In August 2026, Fairfax made some amendments to the Owlsbury proposal. A new period of consultation has now started. We have until 27th September 2026 to reinforce our objections or object for the first time to this plan.
The plan has been ammended but the fundamental principles of the scheme remain unchanged.
The buffers around the Ancient Woodland areas have been altered and the proposal now includes 1,550 homes, while the amount of land allocated for sports pitches has been reduced.
The site remains to the west of the A22, remote from and outside the existing settlement of Uckfield. It is not within reasonable walking distance of Uckfield’s facilities and services.
Uckfield does not have a well-connected railway station and train services are infrequent.
The proposal still relies on people crossing the A22, which would become a 50 mph dual carriageway. Three ground-level crossing points are proposed, but there is still no commitment to build a bridge. Even where bridges are provided, there is no guarantee that people will use them.
Uckfield does not have a well-connected railway station and train services are infrequent.
The proposal still relies on people crossing the A22, which would become a 50 mph dual carriageway. Three ground-level crossing points are proposed, but there is still no commitment to build a bridge. Even where bridges are provided, there is no guarantee that people will use them.
Most importantly, the cumulative transport problem has not gone away. The A22 simply does not have adequate capacity for development on this scale.
WHY WE NEED TO OBJECT
None of the fundamental reasons for opposing Owlsbury has been addressed.
The applicant specifically states that these amendments respond to Wealden District Council’s comments – not to the objections raised by the public.
The substantial concerns remain:
- loss of farmland
- damage to ecology and biodiversity
- landscape and environmental harm
- potential effects on Ashdown Forest
- unsustainable development in a poorly connected location
- inadequate highway capacity
- lack of a clear solution to the strategic issue of water supply
These are not minor concerns – and minor amendments do not make them disappear
It is important that Wealden District Council understands that the latest amendments have not addressed the reasons people objected to the original scheme.
Please email Wealden and make this absolutely clear.
How to reconfirm your objection
- Send your email to: planning@wealden.gov.uk
- Copy your email to: Samuel.batchelor@wealden.gov.uk
- Include:
- Application reference: WD/2025/0922/MEA
- Site: LAND WEST OF UCKFIELD – OWLSBURY FARM
- your full name and postal address
- a clear statement that the August amendments do not address your original objections
- a request for acknowledgement that your objection has been received and registered
If you objected before, please do not assume your job is done. Reconfirm your objection and make sure your voice is heard.
Why should this site not be allocated on the Local Plan?
Remote & Disconnected
The site is remote and disconnected from Uckfield town, being west of the A22 (the centre of the site is some 2km from the Uckfield Railway Station even as the crow flies and yet further from the main town centre facilities and services.
The site is huge and extends into open countryside. The site location is not determined by good Town Planning according to need. The Ridgewood development opposite this site and other sites already have permission to build hundreds of houses.
We need more homes but Owlsbury Farm is not the answer.
Lack of Infrastructure
The road network in the area cannot take this level of increase in traffic.
There are already problems with water and sewage for housing in Wealden that have not been resolved, especially in areas close to the rivers such as the River Uck.
Conflict with National Policy
The proposed developments are seen as conflicting with national policy, local sustainability goals, and the principles of prudent land use.
Adverse impacts on natural habitats, ancient woodland and biodiversity
The site contains pockets of Ancient Woodland and priority habitat deciduous woodland. It would also affect sensitive water courses (River Uck) leading to the River Ouse, ghylls and irreplaceable habitats.
It would damage biodiversity including protected and other fauna.