Campaign against Sandrock Bends development
Campaigning against the proposal to build 65 homes on the Sandrock Bends site on The Ridge goes up a gear. The developer has now filed for outline planning permission, HS/OA/25/00219 | Outline Permission for the erection of up to 65 dwellings (C3), public open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and vehicular access. All matters reserved except for means of access. | Open Space adjacent to Sandrock Park and North of St Helens Church including The Lodge, 309 The Ridge, Hastings, which can be viewed on the Hastings Borough Planning Portal https://publicaccess.hastings.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=_HSTBC_DCAPR_122270&activeTab=summary
Sandrock Bends, which lies to the west of the new St Helen’s church, forms the last open space between St Helens Wood and the open High Weald. That aside, there are real fears that the run-off of water from the proposed development will damage the ancient woodland, which has a direct link with Hastings Liberals as a memorial to Alderman Arthur Blackman. In 1959, his daughter provided most of the funds to buy the original land, whilst her Isabel Blackman Foundation gave further funds for its expansion in 1985 and 1994. Stewart Rayment identified the site as an important wildlife corridor during the Borough Plan consultation a decade ago, but was duly ignored by the Labour council, and it has been a major plank in is campaigning in the Conquest ward. Robert Wakeford has helped the Save Sandrock Bends group, creating their website, so Liberal Democrat involvement goes on.
It will be important for there to be as much individual opposition to the planning application as possible. These must not be ‘cut and paste jobs’, but details can be found on the SSB group’s website, Facebook and WhatsApp pages. Once we have seen the planning application, more detail can be provided, but the key points are the wildlife corridor, the risks associated with flooding (right down to the town centre), and the over-development along The Ridge, with its impact on traffic. Nearly two miles from the town centre as the crow flies and half a mile from the nearest school, Sandrock Bends does not provide a site suitable for the type of housing that Hastings needs. The date for the close of consultation is not yet given, but could be as early as 6th May 2025. Contact Stewart on 07968 845426 if you’d like more information.