Our Emerging Masterplan

September 22

This emerging masterplan isn’t set in stone. It will evolve in consultation with local communities, representatives, and technical experts.

Our masterplan includes:

  • Up to 3250 homes

  • Land for a through school

  • Land for a primary school

  • A town centre and three neighbourhood centres

  • Employment space

  • Public open space

  • Nature Reserve

  • Smallholdings

Our pledges

37% of fruit & veg grown on site by supporting local food and farming initiatives.

Up to 3,250 jobs created across a number of industries, meaning people can live close to where they work.

40% affordable housing helping local people find a quality place to call home.

60% green space - Only 40% of the site will be developed. This goes further than any other major development.

30% biodiversity net gain, significantly above local and national targets. We will boost nature early on in the development, which will support wildlife for decades to come.

Operationally net zero carbon by 2050 by championing renewable energy and supporting sustainability.

A community with leisure, jobs and services

We will create a small market town with food and farming that looks like it belongs in East Sussex. It will be built in phases over 15-20 years, on the principles of 10-20 minute neighbourhoods, meaning you can meet your everyday needs within walking or cycling distance from home.

In keeping with East Sussex’s character, buildings will be designed around walkable neighbourhoods that provide a mix of everyday amenities complemented by a larger town square and centre.  By prioritising pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, we’ll make it easy not to take the car for everyday errands.

The independent shops on the high-street and in the town centres, supported and championed by our Partnership, will be filled with food grown, produced and packaged at North Barnes Farm. 

Our Vision is driven by sustainable place creation

We will lead the way in sustainable place creation by putting food, farming, nature and wellbeing at the heart of our plans.  Our landscape-led masterplan ensures that only 40% of the site will be developed, leaving 60% for green leisure spaces, growing and wildlife. The inclusion of strategic green planting buffers into the masterplan will help ensure that the built form is visually integrated with its surroundings. 

We will create a local food hub

We will create a local food hub by integrating smallholdings, community orchards, allotments and growing spaces throughout the small town. By championing and supporting local food production we know that approximately 37% of all the fruit and vegetable requirements of households can be met on site.

The green spaces and growing spaces will be surrounded by schools and learning, leisure spaces, amenity spaces, and flexible and affordable employment spaces and will be connected by cycleways and footpaths.