Southern Housing is one of the largest housing providers in the UK with around 80,000 homes across London, the South East, the Isle of Wight and the Midlands, giving over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own.
Our vision is to create and support communities where everyone has a safe home in a place where they’re proud to live.
Newington Court background
Newington Court, Pickforde Lane, Ticehurst is a residential scheme comprising 35 one and two-bedroom apartments. Originally built in 1985, a second block was added in 2007 with a branch surgery renting part of the ground floor.
Historically,Continue reading
Southern Housing is one of the largest housing providers in the UK with around 80,000 homes across London, the South East, the Isle of Wight and the Midlands, giving over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own.
Our vision is to create and support communities where everyone has a safe home in a place where they’re proud to live.
Newington Court background
Newington Court, Pickforde Lane, Ticehurst is a residential scheme comprising 35 one and two-bedroom apartments. Originally built in 1985, a second block was added in 2007 with a branch surgery renting part of the ground floor.
Historically, the blocks provided extra care accommodation, but in 2021 this stopped. A lack of admissions meant the scheme couldn’t reach full capacity, so we took the decision to redevelop part of the site. The last residents moved out in May 2024 and the site was secured, apart from the surgery.
We began discussions with Rother District Council around proposals for a smaller, improved older people’s scheme in the block containing the surgery and eight new houses for social rent and shared ownership at the front of the site. You can read more about these original plans here.
As part of our pre-planning exploratory work, we completed a FRAEW (Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls) survey of the block we intended to retain. The results showed that the investment needed to meet safety compliance requirements alone made our initial proposals too expensive to undertake.
We will now be seeking permission to clear the site entirely to deliver new homes for local people and have been working closely with the NHS and Wadhurst Medical Centre to find a workable solution for the community.
Our proposal for new homes
Since we shared our revised proposal for the regeneration of Newington Court in late 2024, we’ve listened to feedback from the community.
The local NHS Trust and Wadhurst Medical Centre have told us the surgery will remain open and at the current site until the end of their lease in 2027. They’re currently working on their plans for future provision in the area.
We will continue to progress our proposal to provide new homes that meet the needs of the community, but construction will not begin until 2027. Our proposal will deliver up to 29 new, 100 per cent affordable homes, subject to planning permission.
Drop-in session at Ticehurst Village Hall on Thursday 6 March from 2pm - 7pm
Thank you to everyone who attended the drop-in session to view our proposal and have your say. The project team welcomed over 100 visitors to view the information boards about our plans for new homes and to answer questions.
The information boards can be viewed on the right-hand side under Documents and further information (or scroll down if using a hand-held device). Please note, these proposals are subject to change as we progress the designs in response to feedback and in consultation with Rother District Council's Planning and Design Officers.
Feedback on our proposals
If you've not yet provided feedback on our proposals, please scroll down to complete an online Feedback form.
If you took away a paper copy and would like to return it, please scan (or take photos of) the form and email it to regeneration.team@southernhousing.org.uk. Alternatively you can post the form to Attn Alison White, Southern Housing, Fleet House, 59-61 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1M 5LA.
Consultation closes on 23 March 2023. We'll update the webpage FAQs in response to your feedback.
We have passed comments received regarding GP services at Ticehurst to Wadhurst Medical Group.
Questions and information about GP services
The surgery team asked us to forward all queries regarding GP services to their mailbox. They are best placed to answer questions about GP services in the area and will address questions and comments in an updated set of Frequently Asked Questions.
You can find further information on the surgery website, including the latest FAQs.
If you would like to speak to someone about patient services, please contact Wadhurst Medical Group:
Although the building is not suitable for residential use, the respective Fire Safety teams have agreed it can continue in it's current daytime use with some extra precautions. It is therefore safe for patients to visit the surgery until alternative arrangements are in place.
Ownership and responsibility
| Organisation | What they do |
|---|
| Rother District Council (RDC) | Owns the rear part of the Newington Court land (furthest from the road)
Planning Committee is responsible for deciding planning applications |
| Southern Housing | Owns the freehold of the land closest to Pickforde Lane. Holds a long-term lease on the land owned by RDC and provides a lease to Wadhurst Medical Group for the Ticehurst Surgery space |
| Wadhurst Medical Group | Tenants of Southern Housing at Ticehurst. Provide primary medical services to patients registered with the Wadhurst Medical Group |
| Integrated Care Board (ICB) | Commissioners of NHS Services. Provide the funding for the practice’s services and the rental payments it makes to Southern Housing |
For more information, see FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) down the right hand side (or below if using a handheld device). Or you can ask a question in the Questions and responses section below. We'll add more information as it becomes available.
