CALA Homes secures planning for 96 new homes in Lewes

Cala Homes today announces it has secured Reserved Matters Approval from Lewes District Council to bring 96 much-needed, high-quality homes to Wivelsfield Green, 38 of which will be affordable. The site is on Land to the East of Ditchling Road, Wivelsfield.

Cala’s plans will provide a choice for house hunters, including a range of one- and two-bedroom affordable apartments, two-, three-, and four-bedroom affordable houses, and two-, three-, and four-bedroom open market houses. The mix of options means there will be suitable homes for first-time buyers, families, and downsizers.

The development will also deliver a range of benefits for the local community in addition to the much-needed new homes, including enhanced pedestrian routes to the north of the site connecting to Blackmores, and the east of the site connecting to Green Road, to encourage active travel. Furthermore, each house will have individual cycle parking and apartments will have access to communal cycle parking.

Additionally, it will include nearly 2 hectares (1.8) of new public open space, raised planting beds in the northwest area of the site, a community orchard with a mixture of fruit trees, and a children’s play area.

All homes on site will be equipped with electric vehicle charging points and air source heat pumps – a low carbon heating solution – to help residents reduce their carbon emissions. Furthermore, the homes will be built with a timber frame which has been shown to have up to 20 per cent less embodied carbon than a typical masonry build. For customers, timber frame could help reduce energy use compared to a traditional masonry structure by offering improved thermal efficiency. 

Measures to support wildlife will also be incorporated into the fabric of all homes, including bird nesting features and bat boxes through Cala’s Urban Wildlife Strategy – an initiative to support and enhance local wildlife through simple and effective interventions. A Biodiversity Net Gain of 10% above existing levels will be achieved across the entirety of the site through new wildlife areas and enhancement of existing hedgerows and watercourses.

Cala has committed to establishing a Community Pledge on the new development. Each Pledge will bring together a bespoke programme of activity designed to address specific community needs. Activity could include financial support, volunteering, schools’ programmes and more. These Pledges have been created in collaboration with the local community, and to help further understand local needs, Cala is welcoming thoughts and feedback via [email protected].

Jessica Sparkes, Head of Planning at Cala (South Home Counties) commented:

“We’re delighted to achieve consent to deliver new homes in Wivelsfield. Lewes and Eastbourne Councils has identified that more than 1,600 new homes are needed across the district before the end of the decade, and this development will provide much-needed homes, as well as affordable rent and shared ownership options.

This consent follows the successful completion of several schemes in the Sussex area, such Barden Croft, in Tonbridge, Hawksbourne in Horsham, New Monks Park in Lancing and Langmead Place in Angmering

“As well as assisting the Council in reducing the significant under supply of housing within the district, the proposed new community would also provide significant contributions towards local services and infrastructure. Additionally, we hope to deliver further support through our Community Pledge initiative and welcome local people’s thought and feedback.”