McBeans Nursery Site, Resting Oak Hill, BN8

LOCATION & SITE DESCRIPTION
The site is located in a rural location to the west of the A275 which runs north from Lewes, the historic market town of East Sussex. It benefits from existing vehicular access directly from the A275. It has traded for several decades as an Orchid Nursery. Cooksbridge station is approximately 1 mile to the south, together with the Rainbow Pub & Carvery.

The site currently comprises a partially derelict and redundant Orchid Nursery which has origins on the site from 1899. There are several large glass houses which are generally in poor condition. In addition, the site contains a detached 3 bed dwelling house together with a small two storey 1960s building comprising ground floor office/laboratories with a self-contained flat above. Both residential units are subject to AST agreements. Details upon request.

The site extends to approximately 3.1acres / 12,545sqm / 135,000sqft and is bounded by open fields, sporadic housing and other buildings.

The site has been home to McBeans Orchid Nursery for many years but is largely unused.

The site is under the jurisdiction of Lewes District Council.

PLANNING
The site is deemed an employment site and has been granted outline planning consent under application LW/22/0688 for the demolition of existing glasshouses and other buildings and erection of a mixed-use redevelopment comprising 9 dwellings and up to 1,420sqm of commercial use within class E(g).

The proposed development is arranged in two distinct sections, utilizing the existing driveway from the A275, which leads to 9 large houses arranged in a courtyard, all with garages, with three detached.

There are 5 x 3 bed houses with 4 x 4 bed houses. A site layout and CGI images are shown overleaf.

3x3 bed units are 102sqm
2x3 bed units are 104sqm
2x4 bed units are 160sqm
2x4 bed units are 170 sqm
Total consented: 1,174sqm / 12,637sqft

The commercial units are arranged in four blocks beyond the residential courtyard as the land drops in elevation.

Sizes proposed range from 135sqm, 150sqm & 280sqm.
Total consented: 1,420sqm / 15,285sqft.

Outline consent was granted on 11th February 2024.