An independent report has concluded the developers of the Ferry Road site in Rye are wrong not to include social housing in their updated planning application. In December 2023 amended plans for 88 residential properties were submitted to Rother District Council explaining affordable housing was no longer financially viable.
This has now been strongly rejected in a report commissioned by Rother - but paid for the applicant Plutus (Rye) Limited. - and published online on Friday May 31. The independent financial viability assessment was written by Porter PE Planning Economics and gives a very detailed examination of the current application, disagreeing with the developer's financial plans. The report concludes that affordable housing is feasible and should be included as part of the proposed development.
The full document can be seen here e_Imagesdv_pl_filesRR_2024_1_Ppl96257.pdf
Rye News has tracked the controversial progress of various planning applications on the vacant former school site at 23 Ferry Road over many years. The latest planning application (Ref RR/2024/1/P) proposes the "demolition of existing building and redevelopment of the site for Retirement Living apartments including communal facilities, car parking and landscaping; custom build residential dwellings; and residential dwellings with associated landscaping, car parking and other associated infrastructure."
The updated plans were fiercely opposed and unanimously rejected by Rye Town Council for a number reasons, not least the lack of availability of social housing. The planning application, on which many local people have also commented, was due to be determined by April 24 this year, but so far no decision has been made.
In tracking the progress (or lack of) in the application, Rye News asked why a decision had not been made and was told the enquiry had been passed to the officer handling the case. The general election may also further delay a decision, with local authorities making no comment on controversial matters because of "purdah" - the convention of staying silent on political issues.
It seems likely though that given this latest report the updated planning application will be refused. What happens next will be interesting, with the developers potentially reapplying with a fresh plan, or possibly calling it a day and walking away from the site.
