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The Local Plan, site ES5

ES5: Adjacent Unit C, 1-8 Brook Way

Baird ward, Brook Way. From Appendix 1 Draft Local Plan - Pre Submission (Regulation 19) September 2026 ↗, Full Council, Wed 23 Sep 2026.

For
Employment
Minimum Indicative Capacity (minimum floorspace)
500sqm
Site area
0.16 hectares
Brook WayAdjacent Unit C, 1-8 Brook Way (at least 500 sq m of workspace)
Placed at Brook Way, the street its name gives, where OpenStreetMap puts it. The site's exact boundary is on the council's Policies Map ↗.

What the plan says about it

The site occupies a prominent position in SIEA2, and is well linked to the B2093 The Ridge with strong links to both the A259 (Brighton-Ashford) and the A21 (London). It is a relatively small plot in a small depression within a larger sloping system. It is in close proximity to a number of taller units, with the topography of the land rising towards The Ridge to the South. The site is capable of delivering additional units that are sensitive to the setting of the Rock Lane – Ivyhouse Lane area and the adjacent National Landscape as a whole. The site also has strong potential to accommodate low carbon technologies as part of any development, including solar PV.

The site is adjacent to the National Landscape, including the Cemetery and Crematorium which has wide reaching views across the NL. Regard should be had to the High Weald National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit Management Plan and associated Technical Guidance. Although the site has been allocated to meet strategic employment needs, any development must take full account of the effect on its setting, and views of it from other parts of the National Landscape – in particular from the Rock Lane and Hastings Cemetery areas from where it is visible. A landscape impact assessment should inform the design of any scheme.

The rest of the plan's explanation (6 more paragraphs)

Due to the site sitting within the Impact Risk Zones (IRZ) for Maplehurst Wood SSSI and Hastings Cliffs to Pett Beach SSSI, Natural England should be consulted at the earliest possible stage. Any development proposal must seek to avoid or minimise negative impact on designated areas of landscape or environmental importance during both the construction and occupation phases of the development.

A lighting plan will be required due to the close proximity to the National Landscape and must demonstrate how steps have been taken to reduce light spill that may impact on this area. Additional guidance on lighting plans in this location is provided in the High Weald Unit’s Dark Skies Technical Advice Note.

Southern Water infrastructure crosses this site, this should be taken into account in the design of any proposal. Care should be taken to prevent the introduction of pollutants to the surface water sewer either during or following construction, in line with Policy SC18 (Pollution and Hazards).

Due to the topographical position of the site, investigations of ground behaviour and land stability should take into account the hydrology of the site, and a detailed stability report will be required.

Development proposals should be supported by a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, taking a vision led and validate approach with particular consideration of the transport impact along The Ridge;

Proposals should seek to enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure both to local residential areas and to existing links within the National Landscape that may support better connectivity to Rock Lane. This could potentially be delivered in combination with site ES7.

What a planning application here would have to do

The policy's conditions, in its own words:

  1. be designed in a way that contributes positively to the intensification of SIEA2
  2. include landscape impact assessment, taking into account both its setting and long-range views across the National Landscape
  3. include a lighting plan to minimise light spill to the nearby National Landscape
  4. include boundary landscaping appropriate to the setting and taking into account existing trees and vegetation
  5. ensure drainage schemes, including SuDS, are appropriate for the site and take into account the existing surface water sewer, the Impact Risk Zones and ground behaviour. Hydrological monitoring should inform the drainage plans for this site
  6. Take into account the Southern Water infrastructure crossing the site
  7. include appropriate active and sustainable travel infrastructure, including improvement to existing pedestrian and cycling routes, including links and enhancements to access PROW HAS/234/1
  8. be supported by a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, following a vision led and validate approach. The Transport Assessment must take account of the site's proximity to The Ridge. Proposals must also indicate how the conclusions and recommendations of the Assessment have been incorporated within the development proposal and include arrangements to implement a monitor and manage approach to mitigation
  9. Access must be achieved from Brook Way.
  10. investigate the impact of ground behaviour and land stability and incorporate remediation or mitigation measures as appropriate
  11. investigate the potential for contamination within or effecting the site, and incorporate remediation or mitigation measures as appropriate; l. be designed to avoid or, where this is not possible, mitigate the impact of potential pollution and environmental hazards to the environment, occupiers and neighbours
  12. provide policy compliant green and blue infrastructure within the site

What people said in the spring

In the spring 2026 consultation on the draft plan (called Regulation 18), 1 comment was made on this site: 0 objections, 0 in support and 1 other comment.

How to comment

The council hasn't opened the six weeks for comments yet, as far as we can see. When it does, the dates and how to respond will be on our Local Plan page and on the council's own ↗.

At this stage a comment is about whether the plan is legally compliant and sound. What that means.

Other council papers that mention it

Read from the plan ↗ and the spring consultation report ↗ with fixed rules; no language model is involved. The plan's own text is what counts.