Lewes District Council greenlit the proposal for Grassington Farm, a free-range poultry farm situated near North Chailey, between Haywards Heath and Uckfield.
The plan outlines converting the barn into a terrace of three two-bedroom homes and four three-bedroom homes – eight dwellings in total.
The building, which was purpose-built to house chickens, is currently vacant, although other buildings on the farm continue to house chickens.
The barn already benefits from power, water, and drainage connections due to its former use.
The building is positioned on a level area of ground enclosed by a wire fence, which would have been erected to allow a safe free-ranging environment for the chickens that were accommodated within it.
The site is accessed via Hazeldene Lane, a narrow rural lane that is also a public right of way.
The proposed development would be served by the existing access, which extends from Hazeldene Lane and was approved as part of the original permission for the erection of the building.
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The decision was made despite nine letters of objection.
Concerns were raised about increased traffic on the narrow Hazeldene Lane, potential hazards from construction activities, and the ability of the existing sewage infrastructure to cope with increased demand.
Worries about ecological damage, urbanisation of the countryside, and the impact on the operation of the neighbouring organic farm were also raised.
The council noted that the lane already serves multiple dwellings and farm and business traffic.
The proposed development includes some partial demolition but would not substantially alter the building’s functional agricultural form.
A separate application to change the use of the land adjacent to the building to residential would be required for formal garden areas to be created.
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