Ringmer has already exceeded its Local Plan for 385 new homes...
...help stop developers carving up more greenfield with a further 570+ homes
We seek to protect Ringmer’s countryside against inappropriate development that is contrary to the key principles and policies of the Ringmer Neighbourhood Plan, the Lewes Local Plan and the South Downs National Park Local Plan, and contrary to the wishes of Ringmer residents.
To ensure that all of our members, and as many other Ringmer residents as possible, are kept informed of such threats to Ringmer’s countryside and are empowered to express their own views effectively.
The blue areas are sites that have been submitted to the council for consideration to be built on. New Call for Sites due to be released.
The threats to our village and countryside are already significant
Ringmer has exceeded its Lewes Local Plan target of 385 homes for 2010-2030
226 additional homes are proposed in planning applications being considered by Lewes DC
320 additional homes are proposed in other ‘live’ applications where pre-planning consultation is completed
More sites have been submitted to Lewes DC so there are likely to be more in the pipeline
If the developers get their way Ringmer will have over 900 new homes since 2010
We need you to join us, to make our voices heard
Join the campaign and encourage family, friends and neighbours to join us too. By joining you will be kept up-to-date with what’s happening and supported in making your voice heard.
MP Support - RE Housing Applications
"As the local MP I am supporting the residents in Ringmer in fighting against the constant development of green field sites in the village. No one is against housing but it needs to be appropriate and in line with the locally supported Ringmer Neighbourhood plan. The current housing developments are not helping local people find homes and is just resulting in our green field spaces being concreted over. Enough is enough."
Maria Caulfield MP
Councillor Support - RE Housing Applications
Johnny Denis
"I remain opposed to these inappropriate green field developments which aim to increase the number of homes but to do so at significant cost to the environment and amenity and without the necessary infrastructure to support them. The very opposite of sustainable development. I am pleased to support this campaign."
"Ringmer against greenfield exploitation is a community organisation that is very much needed and has my full support. Ringmer is seen as fair game at the moment by developers and we need to work together to protect our community and our valuable green space. As a district councillor I will oppose any speculative development outside the local plan. "
Sean Macleod
Emily O'Brien
"As a ward councillor for Ringmer I am fully behind the campaign. I am also busy campaigning nationally on our flawed and broken planning system. I urge the government to abandon the flawed system of housing targets and loopholes like the ‘5 year rule’ for local plans, which are allowing developers to concrete over our countryside"
Which planning applications can I comment on now?
Have your say!
Click on each link to find a map of the proposed development and a list of issues some of which you may wish to consider when making your comment. Remember it’s your chance to express your views on the issues most important to you.
Active planning applications
Gleesons Harrisons Lane Appeals
Land owned by Glyndebourne.
Two refused by Planning Officers at Lewes District Council . The planning officer recommended refusal which was in line with the Parish Council's opinion.
Glyndebourne and Gleesons have decided to take another two bites of the cherry with appeals for both applications. SUBMIT COMMENTS BY 23 MARCH. Click the image for details.
Thakeham Homes, Bishops Lane
UPDATE - 3 Aug 2022
Unanimous Planning Committee voted to refuse permission for this development.
The developer has submitted an appeal but details unknown at this time.
The Orchards, Uckfield Road
ACT NOW
Click the picture for more details.
Refused
Rangers Farm, Chamberlaines Lane ATTEMPT 1 - REFUSED
Refused by Lewes Planning Committee on 8 December 2021. Applicants subsequently submitted a modified application (LW/22/0104) for 68 homes on the same site without any community facilities.
Rangers Farm, Chamberlaines Lane ATTEMPT 2 - APPEAL REFUSED
Refused by Lewes Planning Committee 27 April 2022 for the second time.
The outcome was the appeal was dismissed.
Ashill Regen, Lower Lodge Farm LW/22/0255
ACT NOW
Revised 53 new homes, Lower Lodge Farm
Refused by delegated powers.
Appeal is anticipated.
BoKlok site, Lower Lodge Farm
LW/22/0282 Update Dec 2022 - Rejected by Planning Committee. Developer may appeal.
Planning Granted
Averys, Uckfield Road
Planning inspectorate decided to allow appeal.
Croudace, Broyle Gate Farm
Developer went direct to Appeal rather than democratic LDC Planning Committee.
The planning inspector decided to allow the appeal.
Solar Farm, Norlington Lane LW/22/0254
UPDATE 1 Nov 2022
Planning Committee on Wed 9 November 2022 approved the application on vote 5-4.
The Secretary of State decided not to review this application.
Make your views known to Lewes DC Planning Committee
Click here for a guide to using the Planning Portal to submit an objection. It’s easy, don’t be daunted!
Use the links to the current threats for advice on how to argue against specific proposals.
Neighbourhood Plan
Ringmer’s Neighbourhood Plan was developed by the people of Ringmer, with the Planning Committee of Ringmer Parish Council acting as the steering group. Its origins lie in the Ringmer Village Plan, prepared back in 2003, and its subsequent strategies for employment and residential development. You can view the full plan on the Ringmer Parish Website. Below are the Four Key Principles from this plan
3.1 Ringmer is, and should stay, a village
Ringmer is a large parish with two main settlements, Ringmer village and the Broyleside. The surrounding countryside is highly valued and extensively used by residents, and includes a significant rural population. Ringmer village has a good range of services. Despite its population being larger than many small towns, Ringmer maintains a ‘village feel’, and this is prized by residents as a key asset. ‘Village feel’ includes both landscape and social aspects.
3.2 Ringmer should regain sustainability
Up to the mid-1960s Ringmer was a large but sustainable village community. The predominant reason for living in Ringmer was that you were employed in Ringmer. Since then planned changes have doubled the size of the village by allowing commuter development, while the major local employer closed in the 1980s. Commuting from Ringmer has become far more ambitious and extensive than was ever envisaged. This Neighbourhood Plan will seek to redirect the community towards sustainability by (a) increasing employment opportunities within Ringmer and (b) ensuring that new housing is on a scale and of a type to meet village need.
3.3 Ringmer should be a balanced, healthy and inclusive community
There was serious concern, expressed in the 2003 Village Plan, that in the last decades of the 20th century the Ringmer community became unbalanced. The traditionally high proportion of affordable housing was greatly reduced, and young families were priced out of the village housing market. Recruitment to the village primary school plummeted. The 2003 Village Plan sought to correct this, with partial success – the primary school is now full again. This Neighbourhood Plan will seek to ensure that Ringmer returns to being a fully balanced, healthy and inclusive community.
3.4 Ringmer and the South Downs National Park
After hearing detailed evidence, the Inspector drew the National Park boundary tightly around the south-east and west boundaries of Ringmer village, leaving the parish partly within and partly outside the SDNP, but almost all residents living outside the boundary. This Neighbourhood Plan will include policies to respect this decision, ensuring that only development that supports the National Park purposes and duty takes place within the Ringmer section of the SDNP.