PLANS to redevelop a village pub near Hailsham into up to nine homes have been given initial approval, despite strong objections from the parish council.
Wealden District Council planning officers approved a Permission in Principle (PIP) application for the King’s Head in Lower Horsebridge on Tuesday, November 3.
The application, submitted by Louisa May Ltd, proposes converting the existing pub and building additional properties on the site to create between six and nine homes.
Indicative plans show the pub could be divided into six dwellings, with three new houses constructed in its car park.
However, the proposals have faced strong opposition from Hellingly Parish Council, which argues the redevelopment would result in the loss of an important community facility at a time when hundreds of new homes are being built nearby.
In its objection, a parish council spokesman said: “The development proposal at The King’s Head presents an unjustified loss of a vital community facility, conflicting with the sustainable development needs of an area experiencing unprecedented strategic housing growth, with approximately 300 to 700 new dwellings currently allocated or permitted in the immediate vicinity.
“While the applicant claims the commercial business is unviable, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that The King’s Head could not remain a viable going concern if marketed effectively at a realistic commercial value.”
Planning officers acknowledged that national planning policies generally seek to protect community facilities, including pubs, from redevelopment.
Such proposals would normally be refused unless there is evidence the business cannot remain commercially viable, a better replacement facility would be provided, or suitable alternatives already exist locally.
Although the applicant argued the King’s Head was no longer financially viable, officers concluded the supporting evidence was not sufficiently robust.
However, they ultimately decided that the presence of another pub in Lower Horsebridge, the White Hart, meant the loss of the King’s Head would be acceptable.
In their report, a council planning spokesman said: “The White Hart is a smaller venue but provides alternative provision of a public house with a function room that the local community can use.
“On balance, it is considered that due to the presence of another public house in Lower Horsebridge, the proposed change of use/development of the King’s Head would not diminish access to key community facilities.”
The approval does not mean construction can begin immediately.
Permission in Principle establishes whether the location, proposed residential use and amount of development are acceptable, rather than approving the detailed design.
The applicant must now submit a Technical Details application, setting out the precise layout and design of the development, before the scheme can proceed.
Planning officers concluded that the site could potentially accommodate the maximum nine dwellings proposed.
Further information is available through Wealden District Council’s planning portal under reference WD/2026/1928/PIP.
