Environment & Conservation
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION MARESFIELD VILLAGE
This report will examine environmental and conservation issues in and around Maresfield
Village. It will attempt to address the major environmental issues affecting Maresfield, so
these can be incorporated into a questionnaire for residents as part of the Neighbourhood
Development Plan.
In the Summary to its 2002 “State of the Historic Environment” report, English Heritage
comments that: - “Maintaining and protecting the historic environment is necessary to ensure
that future generations are able to continue to enjoy the quality and variety of life we have
today. Change is inevitable but needs to be managed constructively. Insensitive new design
blights the historic environment and diminishes its character and distinctiveness”
Clearly the same applies to Maresfield as it is a historic village, with its centre within a
Conservation Area. Many of the houses in the High Street and those surrounding the
Recreation Ground / St Bartholomews Church are listed buildings, unique in their design and
heritage and as a consequence are a vital part of the Conservation Area. The Parish Church
is Grade 1 listed and despite restoration in 1875-1879, it retains much of its 13th century
fabric
Any new development within Maresfield Village must enhance both landscapes and wildlife
habitats. Maresfield currently enjoys open spaces and fields and many country lanes which
must be protected in the future. Consideration to the present character of the village and
proposed character needs to be fundamental to any future development proposals,
maintaining the village feel whilst ensuring our green space is also protected and not eroded.
Wildlife must also be fully considered and protected in our green village and ecological
surveys should be undertaken by any future developers to ensure the village wildlife is
protected.
It is hoped this report will be used as an evidence base to assist the local planning authority
when considering environmental issues in any future planning and development proposals
for Maresfield and it will assist in posing questions for the NDP survey, so the views of the
Maresfield residents can be obtained.
Issues to be addressed in this report:1. Impact on Ashdown Forest by future development
2. Protection of Trees / Landscape
3. Maintaining our Village Environment and Conservation Area
4. Listed Buildings
5. Views
6. Summary Comments
Environment- Impact on Ashdown Forest by future development in Maresfield
Maresfield village lies approximately 1.5 miles from the Ashdown Forest, which stretches for
6500 acres across the High Weald and it is the largest free public open space in the South
East of England. Approximately 60% of the Ashdown Forest is heath land and 40% mixed
woodland. It is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has also been designated as a
Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Site of
Community Importance (SCI) per the Natura 2000 Data Form. It is also a site of Special
Scientific interest.
2.
It enjoys the highest level of protection and has influenced Wealden District Council’s Core
Strategy, a planning document that directs where strategic growth should occur within their
District.
Source: Natura 2000 Data Form & WDC Core Strategy Document
One of Wealden’s key factors is the protection of this AONB and to manage the harmful
levels of nitrogen deposition that comes from traffic generation, air pollution from aircraft and
also wildlife within the Forest. The Habitats Directive and National Regulations relating to
Habitats Assessments mean that additional growth in housing numbers, employment and
community projects in and around the Forest can only take place, if such growth does not
contribute to harmful nitrogen deposition caused by traffic movement. The EU Directive in
this regard and in particular to our Parish, currently bans future development within 400
metres of the Forest. However, the Habitats Regulations Assessment for the Wealden Core
Strategy states that within Zone A, i.e., 400 metres of the Ashdown Forest, residential
developments that result in a net increase of one or more dwellings will not be permitted
unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. This document also restricts
development between 400 metres to 7 kilometres of the Ashdown Forest under Zone B,
which states that residential developments that result in a net increase of one of more
dwellings will be required to contribute to:- 1) Provide Suitable Alternative Green Space
(SANGS) elsewhere to the level of 8 hectares per 1,000 net increase in population and 2)
The implementation of an Ashdown Forest Access Management Strategy and 3) programme
of monitoring and research at Ashdown Forest, to ensure that the overall level of visitor
numbers to the Ashdown Forest does not cause damage through increases in traffic and
recreational pleasures.
Source: Assessment of the Core Strategy under the Habitats Regulations August 2011
Maresfield village is within the 7 kilometres restriction zone of the Ashdown Forest, so it is
clearly critical to Wealden’s protection plans that any future development in the village
accords with these requirements whilst maintaining its unique character.
Any new development within Maresfield will inevitably produce an increase in vehicles that
must be factored in to any future housing plans to minimise the impact on the village and
also the Ashdown Forest. Wealden’s Core Strategy for development within Maresfield is 50
houses only up to the year 2027, which was agreed after public consultation in 2010.
Wealden District Council had previously allocated 80 houses to Maresfield in an earlier
housing strategy that now comprise the Wellington Gate development, just off Batts Bridge
Road. These houses have now virtually all been built, with only a few outstanding but
nearing completion.
Maresfield is a village with around 600 homes so any further increase in housing
development in our village, other than the 50 homes per the Core Strategy, can only be
detrimental to its character and village status, especially given that numbers will increase by
just under 22% as per the information above, which includes the Wellington Gate
development, not to mention the potential for future damage to the Ashdown Forest by
nitrogen deposition. Wealden District Council is currently monitoring nitrogen deposition on
the forest but this is likely to take some time and meaningful results are not anticipated for at
least two years. There is also concern within the SAC & SSI for the forest that there could be
an increase in fly tipping as well as the problems encountered from further recreational use.
For background information in this regard, the B2026, off the Straight Half Mile and under 1
mile to the village centre, runs through the Ashdown Forest and can provide villagers and
motorists with a scenic back route to
Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells and beyond, avoiding the traffic congestion usually
encountered on the A26 route to these areas. Similarly, the A22 can be accessed at the
Lampool roundabout at the end of the village on the Straight Half Mile or the Batts Bridge
roundabout at the end of Batts Bridge Road and also the
Maresfield By-Pass, which has yet to successfully reduce traffic volumes through the village
at peak times. The A22 provides access to East Grinstead and routes to the motorways of
the M23 / M25, but travel north on the A22 also means travelling through the Ashdown
Forest surrounding Nutley, another village within the Maresfield Parish, creating further
increases in traffic volumes and potential damage to the Ashdown Forest.
Source: Wealden gov.uk website and EU Directive on Habitat
3.
Environment -Protection of Trees / Landscape
Maresfield is a rural country village with open spaces, country lanes and a lovely recreation
ground at its core plus a Lawn Bowls Green adjacent to it, with many varieties of trees and
hedgerows that improve its aesthetic appeal.
The centre of the village has extensive tree cover which is a dominant feature in the
landscape. There are prominent tree groups in the graveyard, along the Parish Church
frontage and along the boundary of the Recreation ground and also within the Village Hall
car park. The tree lined approach to the village from Uckfield is emphasised by the roadside
embankments and sandstone outcrops, which is also seen along Underhill, where a belt of
trees extends eastwards out of the village and form particularly dominant features because
of the sandstone embankment along part of the lane and steeply sloping land that rises to
the rear of the properties on London Road. Elsewhere individual trees enhance many of the
buildings in the village centre and the approach to the village on the main roads. Tree
Preservation Orders are in place on many of these trees. See Appendix B, which was
obtained from the WDC website, http//.www.planning.wealden.gov.uk/advsearch.aspx under
TPO box and Maresfield entered in the address area for the search.
There is evidence reported by the Woodland Trust that urban trees remove large amounts of
air pollution and improve urban air quality (Nowak et al 2006). Research in recent years has
begun to identify how urban greening and tree planting in particular might be tailored to
achieve air quality goals whilst also fulfilling many of the other beneficial functions of urban
green space. Careful selection of tree species in future developments is essential if we are
to ensure that the positive impacts for improving air quality are greatest and any negative
effects are minimised. It would also contribute positively to the natural beauty of the village
and maintain its rural feel.
Evergreen species apparently contribute to pollutant scrubbing year round whilst deciduous
species are limited to stem deposition only in winter. The contribution of stems to particular
deposition can be substantial dependent on species (Freer-Smith et al., 2004). When in leaf,
broadleaf species may also be more efficient than needle leaf species, due to the higher leaf
surface of broadleaf trees (Jim and Chen 2008).
The differences in tree species are important, not only from a visual perspective, but also
because they play an important part in estimating particulate capture with some trees better
at this than others, e.g. leaves with complex shapes, large circumference to area ratios,
waxy cuticles or fine hairs on their surfaces collect particles more efficiently (Twiary et al.,
2009). The best trees in this regard have been identified as Alder, Field Maple, Hawthorn,
Larch, Laurel, Lawson Cypress, Norway Maple, Pine and Silver Birch. The worst are Aspen,
Crack Willow, English Oak, Goat Willow, Red Oak, Sessile Oak and White Willow.
Source: Woodland Trust
Conservation – Maintaining our Village Environment and Conservation Area
The village of Maresfield is primarily residential in character with many unique character
properties and 22 Listed Buildings. There are twelve listed buildings in the centre of the
village which are included in the Statutory List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic interest
as per the Map within Appendix A and also 9 other listed buildings within the village
boundary as identified on the Map.
The Parish Church of St Bartholomews previously mentioned in this report and the Chequers
Inn, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 18th Century are but two of these buildings,
the latter originally being a coaching stop on the route to London. The Chequers has a
distinctive Georgian style and because of its prominent position at the road junction, is an
important landmark in the village.
4.
Maresfield Park Lodge is also in a prominent location at the village centre and whilst not a
listed building, it does make a significant contribution to the character of the area and the
approach to Maresfield Park by its gothic archway.
There are also a number of other distinctive and notable buildings in the village and whilst
these are not listed, are important to the village as they contribute to its historic core.
Although new housing areas have been developed in recent years, the most recent of which
was Wellington Gate, as previously mentioned, the village retains its charm through its
centre and core, being the heart of the Conservation Area.
On the basis of the “Visual Appraisal” Wealden District Council considers that the
conservation area should encompass the following main elements, which contribute to the
special historic character of Maresfield and form the basis of the designated conservation
area:1. St Bartholomew’s Church and Churchyard
2. The historic core of the village along London Road and Batts Bridge Road
3. The Underhill area and prominent tree belt
4. The graveyard
5. The Recreation Ground
Maresfield Conservation Group are proposing an extension to the conservation area to
include Park Farm House, Park Farm Oast and Park Farm Barn, which are all listed
buildings and very attractive features in the countryside to the south of the village and close
to the Recreation Ground, which should perhaps be further considered with the owners
agreements.
Wealden Council state that “The setting of a Conservation Area is equally important as the
elements contained within it and particular regard is had to the relationship of adjacent areas
to the special character of the Conservation Area”. This view should be fundamental to any
new development within Maresfield if the character of the village is to be maintained.
Other features to be maintained within the village is the commemorative stone at the
entrance to the Recreation Ground in celebration of Queen Victoria’s 60 year reign in 1897,
with four smaller ones also laid at each of its four corners and the iron milestone that depicts
Bow Bells and the distance to London at the corner of Underhill and London Road. There
are also a number of important features within the churchyard such as the lych gate, the iron
gate, the war memorial the iron lamp, stone wall and the iron tombstone.
There are a number of features that are detrimental to the overall character of the village
such as overhead wires, inappropriate road signs, traffic bollards, waste bins and areas of
tarmacadam surfaced footpaths that could potentially be enhanced by any new approved
development or enhancement scheme.
A new traffic management plan is to be introduced shortly in Maresfield, following work by
the Maresfield Conservation Group and also agreed with the Maresfield Residents Group,
which has been approved by the Parish Council with some funding from Section 106 monies
from the Wellington Gate development and possibly the future development of 50 houses.
The Settlement Pattern & Building Characteristics Summary of Design Guidelines sections
of this report will provide a greater insight into the type, style and character of the buildings
within Maresfield as a guide to future development requirements, but it is hoped that a
repetition of the style and urban development of the Wellington Gate site will not be
replicated in the future, as it does not easily blend with the rest of the village. Any new
5.
development proposals should respect the historic settlement patterns as well as the layout,
character and setting of existing buildings within the village, paying particular regard to the
scale, height, form, grouping, density, materials and detailing, including boundary treatment.
There is also a requirement for Allotments from residents within the village determined from
local consultations on previous housing applications and it would be good for the village if an
area could be designated for these within any future development proposals, to meet current
demand.
Maresfield contributes to the philosophy of minimising waste and disposal in accordance
with current good practice, Wealden Council have recently introduced a new waste collection
programme in the Parish where refuse rubbish is collected fortnightly and recycling waste
and garden waste are also collected fortnightly, on alternative weeks to the rubbish refuse
collection. The refuse days are scheduled by area by the Council and these are listed in a
refuse calendar that is distributed to every household, with Maresfield’s collection being on a
Friday each week. Maresfield also has a Waste Management site on the A272 just pass
Batts Bridge roundabout, which is useful to residents and other nearby villages / locations,
for effective waste management in the neighbourhood.
Views
From within the recreation ground, attractive views can be enjoyed of the historic village core
to the north and to the south west of Park Farm House and south to the countryside beyond.
Along Underhill, the view from the east reveals the semi rural character of the area which is
emphasised by the dominant backcloth of mature tree cover. To the north of ShelleyVillas,
listed buildings, there is a fine view of open countryside.
The main roads through the village provide clear views of the historic core, with the Parish
Church as a focal point, particularly its tower. The Chequers Inn is a particularly prominent
landmark when approaching the village from the west.
Long distance views of the village centre are available from the countryside to the south
across the recreation ground, whereas from elsewhere the village centre is largely obscured
by surrounding development and relatively dense tree cover.
Source: Wealden District Council Report on Maresfield Conservation Area
Summary Comments:
The content of this report should be fully considered and incorporated into the
Neighbourhood Development Plan for Maresfield Parish, so the beauty of the Parish and in
particular Maresfield village, where the current future development of 50 homes is planned to
take place, will not be eroded or damaged by this or any future developments.
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION NUTLEY VILLAGE
1. Landscape Character
The village of Nutley lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
designated for its landscape character of dispersed settlements, ancient route ways, small
ancient woodlands (often containing ghylls) and irregularly shaped fields.
The underlying geology is a ridge of sandstone and siltstone laid down 135 million years ago
running east-west across the area. Streams cut through soft rock to form a gently undulating
landscape with valley and ghylls.
The village is split by the A22 road which follows the ridge which runs north-south through
the parish. To the east of the road the topography is dominated by Ashdown Forest with its
expanse of lowland heathland yielding an open landscape highly visible over a wide area – a
nationally important landscape vulnerable to any change.
The western side is characterised by small irregularly shaped fields and ancient woodlands
with lanes bordered by hedgerows, so typical of the High Weald AONB.
2. Village Character
A linear pattern of small cottages and houses face the High Street with some modern
examples built in the last century. Few large buildings such as the Regency Nutley House
(formerly Shelley Arms) and Victorian gothic revival Nutley Hall stand out amongst the
weatherboarded and brick single storey houses. Other common building patterns include
plain clay roofs, brick walls constructed from soft red and brown-red bricks, sandstone
cottages, timber frames and half tile hung houses. The church is constructed from local
sandstone.
Other notable distinctive buildings in the village include Butt Cottages, Tudor Cottage, Old
Nether, Prickett’s Hatch and The Barracks. Modern developments are present in the cul-desacs at Ashdown Chase, Churchfields and Oakwood Park.
Large mature trees of lime, oak, sycamore and horse chestnut line the approach road from
the south and wide grassy verges provide a green corridor to the heart of the village. School,
Clockhouse, Nursery, Bell and Nether are all Lanes radiating from either side of the A22,
each with attractive cottages and farms bordering them.
3. Conservation and Planning Constraints
The most important environmental impact on Nutley is its proximity to Ashdown Forest, a
landscape of international importance protected by numerous regulations and designations
which aim to preserve the rare lowland heathland habitat, together with its associated flora
and fauna.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 enabled provisions to protect birds, animals and
plants through designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special
Protection Areas (SPA). Ashdown Forest is given this status (SSSI) because it supports
several uncommon plants, a rich invertebrate fauna, and important populations of heath and
woodland birds. It was classified as an SPA in March 1996 because it supports bird
populations of European importance such as Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata and Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus.
Ashdown Forest also has Special Area of Conservation designation as it is one of the largest
blocks of lowland heathland in south-east England and supports rare species and habitats at
European level.
Wealden District Council acknowledges the importance of protected species and its role in
seeking to enhance and promote their wellbeing through the protection, enhancement,
restoration and creation of their associated habitats. This is achieved through a green
network strategy which aims to achieve a net gain in biodiversity and sustain wildlife in both
rural and urban areas. It includes restriction of development likely to have a deleterious
effect on this special habitat and thereby preventing a net loss of biodiversity.
The Council intends reducing the recreational impact of visitors resulting from new housing
development within 7 kilometres of Ashdown Forest by creating an exclusion zone of 400
metres for net increases in dwellings. For proposed developments within the 7km zone,
mitigating measures providing Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGs) and
contributions to on-site visitor management measures will be required.
The Council will also undertake further investigation of the impacts of nitrogen deposition
from development near Ashdown Forest so that its effects can be more fully understood in
the longer term and mitigated against if appropriate.
4. Mitigation measures for Ashdown Forest SPA and SAC
The Core Strategy Habitat Regulations Assessment identified a series of avoidance and
mitigation measures with the aim of eliminating the risk of adverse effects on Ashdown
Forest as a result of development. These measures were agreed by Natural England and
other key stakeholders and were concluded as acceptable at the Core Strategy Examination
in Public.
The measures agreed include:
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A two zone approach to new development – Zone A and Zone B
Provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGs)
On-site access management
Monitoring, research and review
Zone A
No net new dwellings will be allocated or permitted within 400m of the Ashdown Forest SPA.
It is considered necessary to avoid an increase in residential development within this zone
as it will be unlikely that the provision of a SANG close to the Ashdown Forest will not
provide an effective alternative green space. Furthermore, urbanisation effects such as fly
tipping and cat predation are likely within a distance of 400m from the SPA.
Zone B
Residential developments that result in a net increase of 1or more dwellings within 400m–
7km to the Ashdown Forest will be required to provide or contribute to:
1. The provision of SANGs.
2. The implementation of on-site access management;
3. Monitoring and research
It has been identified that a large proportion of visitors to Ashdown Forest come from within
7km and their main purpose is for dog walking mitigation measures are therefore considered
necessary under the precautionary principle.
The Natura 2000 Standard Data Form for Ashdown Forest SAC states ‘that in
general, public access is not a threat to the SAC, unless it prevents expansion of the
grazed area’. The Ashdown Forest Conservators manage the Ashdown Forest including
grazing and there are plans to increase the area of grazed heathland through a grazing
strategy. This includes the need for fencing, constraints on dog walkers and other forms of
informal recreation, and improved availability of appropriate livestock.
Appendix
Statutory designations provide the legal status that protects wildlife, landscape and cultural
aspects of the countryside and the following apply to Ashdown Forest.
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
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Enables the designation and protection of land in the UK as SSSI.
Enables certain provisions to protect wild birds, animals and plants.
Prohibits the spread and introduction of particular non-native species (Japanese
knotweed, giant hogweed etc, listed in Schedule 9) into the wild.
The 1992 EC Habitats Directive.
The Habitats Directive (1992) and the conservation Regulations 1994 (Council
Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora)
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It is an offence to deliberately disturb, capture, keep, transport, injure or kill a wild
animal of European Protection Status.
Enables the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to maintain the
conservation status of rare or vulnerable habitats and species, as stated within the
Directive.
In combination with SPAs, member states recommend European Sites of national
importance to form a network known as Natura2000
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2012 (as amended)
Transposes Council Directive 92/43/EEC into UK law for the designation of ‘European
Sites’ and 'European Protected Species'.
In 2007 new offences were introduced relating to intentional or reckless damage to
habitats and intentional or reckless disturbance to species, including the capture, killing,
disturbance, or trade of animals listed in Schedule 2, or pick, collect, cut, uproot, destroy,
or trade in the protected plants listed in Schedule 4.
Some animal species listed in Schedule 5 of Wildlife & Countryside Act (such as bats,
dormice, and great crested newts) have their legislation strengthened, through listing in
Schedule 2 - for example, by giving protection to resting places and breeding sites
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Natural England now has responsibility for identifying and protecting the SSSIs in England
under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and more recently The Countryside and Rights
of Way Act 2000.
Ashdown Forest was notified of its original SSSI status in 1953 and again in 1986 under the
1981 act. It was given this status because it supports several uncommon plants, a rich
invertebrate fauna, and important populations of heath and woodland birds.
Special Protection Area (SPA)
SPAs are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the EC Directive on
the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC), also known as the Birds Directive, which came
into force in April 1979. They are classified for rare and vulnerable birds, listed in Annex I to
the Birds Directive, and for regularly occurring migratory species.
Ashdown Forest was classified as an SPA in March 1996 because it supports bird
populations of European importance which are listed on Annex I of the Directive, namely
Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
SACs are strictly protected sites designated under the EC Habitats Directive. Article 3 of the
Habitats Directive requires the establishment of a European network of important highquality conservation sites that will make a significant contribution to conserving the 189
habitat types and 788 species identified in Annexes I and II of the Directive. The listed
habitat types and species are those considered to be most in need of conservation at a
European level. Of the Annex I habitat types, 76 are believed to occur in the UK. Of the
Annex II species, 43 are native to, and normally resident in, the UK.
Ashdown Forest achieved SAC status in 2005. It was awarded this because it has one of the
largest single continuous blocks of lowland heath in south-east England. The site supports
important assemblages of beetles, dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies, including the
nationally rare silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus), and birds of European importance, such
as European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) and
Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo).
Natura 2000
Ashdown Forest is part of the European Natura 2000 Network. It has been designated
because it hosts some of Europe's most threatened species and habitats. All 27 countries of
the EU are working together through the Natura 2000 network to safeguard Europe's rich
and diverse natural heritage for the benefit of all.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Created by the legislation of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949,
AONBs represent 18% of the finest Countryside in England and Wales.
Their care has been entrusted to the local authorities, organisations, community groups and
the individuals who live and work within them or who value them. Each AONB has been
designated for their flora, fauna, historical and cultural associations as well as scenic views.
Wealden District Local Plan, Core Strategy, Core Delivery Policies
Planning Policy Statement 9
"Biodiversity and Geological Conservation" identifies
that biodiversity and geological conservation interests should be maintained, enhanced,
restored or increased, and that appropriate weight is attached to designated sites of
international, national and local importance; protected species; and to biodiversity and
geological interests.
WCS12 Biodiversity
In order to contribute to the biodiversity targets provided in the Sussex Biodiversity
Action Plan the Council will prevent a net loss of biodiversity, ensure a comprehensive
network of habitats, and work with partners to maximise opportunities to ensure habitats,
biodiversity features and ecological networks are maintained, restored, enhanced and where
possible created to achieve a net gain in biodiversity and sustain wildlife in both rural and
urban areas. This will be achieved through the development and implementation of an
integrated green network strategy.
WCS13 Green Infrastructure
The District's existing network of green infrastructure will be protected, improved and
enhanced by the implementation of a Green Infrastructure Strategy, ensuring a
multifunctional, accessible network which maintains and improves biodiversity and
landscape character, increases opportunities for healthy living and contributes to
healthy ecosystems and climate change objectives.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW) 2000)
The CROW Act gives the UK BAP a statutory basis.
Amends SSSI provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and provides additional
power for their protection and management. Third parties can now be convicted of damaging
SSSIs.
Enables courts to impose heavier fines and prison sentences for all wildlife offences (up to
£5000 and/or six months imprisonment per offence).
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC)2006.
This extensive legislation relates mostly to the protection of wildlife but also focuses upon
organisations concerned with the natural environment and rural communities. It established
Natural England as a statutory body, as well as the Commission for Rural Communities. Its
aim is to provide flexible administration arrangements in connection with functions relating to
the environment and rural affairs.
References
Nutley Conservation Group. Nutley Village Design Statement, 2007
www.ashdownforest.org, 2013
Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan, Core Delivery Policies. February 2013
Wealden District Council Local Plan, Habitats Regulations Assessment. Proposed
Submission Strategic Sites Local Plan. June 2013
Ashdown Forest SAC Method for Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment of Nitrogen
Deposition. July 2013.
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION FAIRWARP VILLAGE
1
Landscape Character
The village of Fairwarp lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty, on the southern slopes of the Ashdown Forest.
The village centre lies to the east of the B2026 road, but Fairwarp Ward also
covers many settlements scattered within the Ashdown Forest, as far as
Duddleswell in the north of the Ward, Heron’s Ghyll to the east, Lampool Farm in
the south and Horney Common in the west.
The northern half of the Ward comprises mainly heathland and woodland of the
Ashdown Forest, whilst the southern half is predominantly enclosed pastureland
and woodland, interspersed with private dwellings and gardens.
2
Village Character
The Street and Back Lane are the main residential streets in the central area of
the village. The Street is wide enough for two cars to pass with care, if parked
cars are not obstructing the route, but Back Lane is a single track road. There
are no footways for pedestrians and no street lighting anywhere in the village.
The village centre consists of around 65-75 houses, approximately 20% of the
350 houses in the Ward. The remaining households are scattered throughout the
Ward, with small groupings in Nursery Lane (25-30 houses), along the B2026
(15-20), Old Forge Lane (40-45), Horney Common (12-15), Cackle Street (5-6),
Spring Garden (12-15), Duddleswell (20-25), Putlands (10-15), Brown’s Brook (710), Oldlands Hall (25-30) and Heron’s Ghyll (5-6).
There are eight Listed Buildings within the Ward: Christ Church, Paddock
Farmhouse, Lampool Cottages (Lampool Edge), Lampool, Spinners, The Crow’s
Nest (The Dove’s Nest), Oldlands Home Farmhouse and Hendall Manor
Farmhouse. Of these, only Spinners is within the central village area.
Entry to the village centre is predominantly via The Street from the B2026, due to
the hazardous nature of the entrance to the village from the A26 down Oldlands
Hill, a single-track road with a ford. The first features seen upon entering the
village centre include the Sussex-style, tile-hung Listed Building, Spinners, and
the Village Green, which is owned by Ashdown Forest and has a consequently
rural, rather than closely managed, appearance.
Apart from the village pub, The Foresters Arms, there are no commercial or
public buildings anywhere along The Street or Back Lane.
The present village centre only began to develop in the early 20th Century. Prior
to this time the village of Fairwarp consisted of Foresters’ cottages scattered
within the area for the accommodation of the local workforce. There is little
uniformity of building style within the village centre as the housing stock largely
reflects the style of the various periods when incremental development of the
village took place.
Many of the houses within the village have their origins as Foresters’ cottages
which have been extended and altered over time to form the unique selection of
buildings seen today. However, there are small pockets of more uniform
development that have been added to the village centre in the 20th Century,
including:
Location
Time period and type of houses
Opposite and adjacent to the Village
Victorian terraced cottages and semi-
Green
detached houses
Normansland
1940s Six semi-detached council
houses
South side of The Street, opposite The
1960s Eleven semi-detached,
Old Post Office and Orchard Close
detached and bungalows
Hop Garden
Late 1960’s Twelve detached houses
Normansland
1970s Six semi-detached houses
Orchard Close
Late 1980s Four detached houses
There is one further post-war development of 20 semi-detached and terraced
houses at Old Forge Cottages in Old Forge Lane.
The remaining houses in the Ward are varying styles of detached dwellings
situated in large plots, frequently within sheltered areas of woodland on the lower
slopes of the southern edge of the Ashdown Forest.
There has been no new development of two or more houses since Orchard Close
in the late 1980s. Any more recent buildings are replacements for single
dwellings.