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What is Village Concerns


Village Concerns is an Action Group campaigning to protect the character and ambience of the Parish of East Hoathly with Halland in East Sussex.  It endeavours to prevent overdevelopment and ensure that development in the Parish is sustainable.  It aims to monitor housing proposals and galvanise the community to either endorse beneficial developments or challenge those that are unsustainable.


Village Concerns was established in 2016 when a developer submitted a proposal to build 205 homes in the parish on greenfield land which would increase the number of homes in the village of East Hoathly by 63 %.  


The draft Wealden Local Plan now proposed 686 new homes in the Parish up to 2040 which would see the number of homes in East Hoathly quadruple since 2009.


Developers are now proposing ideas for new settlements at Hesmonds Village (2,000 homes) and Oakleigh Garden Community (4,000 homes).


What Can I Do ?


If you would like to do something about this then become a supporter of Village Concerns.  Join our mailing list by contacting us with your email address.  We will then send you Updates on current planning applications and give advice on how to object.  Go to the Contact page or email: villageconcerns2016@gmail.com


Our latest Update 166: Supporter Guidance for making objections to Reserved Matters Planning Application WD/2023/0633/MRM for 55 homes on South Street.    Please object by 15 June.


A library of all previous Updates is located in the Reference Library.

              Who Runs Village Concerns


Village Concerns is run by a Steering Group elected at an Annual General Meeting.  The Steering Group maintains an email list of supporters.  The meetings are currently taking place virtually via Zoom.  The current members of the Steering Group are:

Katherine Gutkind                    Joint Chair


Victoria Aldridge                      Joint Chair


Jan Burdon


Helena Chapman


Gill Kennedy                               Treasurer


Gareth Shrimpton


Alisa Sweeney


Jonathan Walker


The Steering Group is very keen to have new members.   If you have any experience with planning, legal matters or fundraising then please let us know.