Client: Ticehurst Homes
Sector: Residential Masterplanning
Location: Ticehurst, Wadhurst
Ward: Wadhurst Parish Council
Status: Planning
The application site is situated within Ticehurst, which is both a village and large civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex. Ticehurst is located on a ridge line in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The existing site is currently composed of grassland, bordered to the north, north-west and east by the gardens of neighbouring properties. To the north -eastern site boundary is an electricity transformer station.
Analysis of the rhythm and proportion of the local vernacular has been carried out. This has revealed typical details which are prevalent within the traditional architectural forms and scale of Ticehurst. The principal features are as follows:
- Universal use of pitched roofs, with variation in style
- Generally low eaves throughout, with some exceptions
- Largely tile hung upper levels with tiled roofs and brickwork beneath.
- Roofs often tiled and relatively steeply pitched
- Large chimneys creating a focal point
- Regular rhythm to windows and door openings, emphasis on symmetry
The layout has progressed following the approved Site Plan issued at Outline Planning stage, reconciling the site constraints and opportunities identified at that stage.
The access has been approved from High Street via the existing access serving the Old Coachworks flats and electricity substation to the rear. The existing access roadway is extended into the development site to provide a new spine road (culd-de-sace) site fronted by new housing with additional pockets of housing set around yards and parking areas. The overall parking provision is for 71no. parking spaces provided by garages, individual parking bays and shared parking courts.
A separate footpath link is proposed to the north west of the site, connecting the development to High Street passing between Hillbury Gardens and Hillbury House.
The proposed layout has been driven by two major constraints; the need to protect the Ancient Woodland to the south and the need to distance the new buildings from neighbouring properties in Hillbury Gardens to avoid overlooking.
The proposal has been designed so that there is open space located to the southern side of the application site, which provides a buffer zone between the proposed housing and the designated Ancient Woodland.
Housing is set away from the northern site boundary, with gardens proposed along the northern edge to ensure that there is no overlooking of neighbouring properties.
The layout of the scheme has been developed alongside the High Weald Housing Design Guide.
