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 Independent Living scheme
Please go to our redevelopment webpage for information about our new proposal.
Newington Court, Pickforde Lane, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, TN5 7DJ is an Independent Living scheme comprising 35 one and two-bedroom apartments. Originally built in 1985Continue 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 Independent Living scheme
Please go to our redevelopment webpage for information about our new proposal.
Newington Court, Pickforde Lane, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, TN5 7DJ is an Independent Living scheme comprising 35 one and two-bedroom apartments. Originally built in 1985, a second block was added in 2007. Ticehurst GP Surgery occupies part of the ground floor in the newer part of the building.
Up until 2021 the scheme provided ‘Extra Care’ housing, which included an onsite care team. This provision was decommissioned by East Sussex County Council in 2021 as not enough applicants met their required criteria.
Residents were re-assessed by Adult Social Care, and the majority moved into alternative Extra Care schemes or residential homes. Newington Court became a ‘housing with care’ scheme, with carers visiting when needed by residents.
In 2021 we paused lettings while we considered options to provide a sustainable Independent Living scheme in Ticehurst and contribute to the wider need for affordable homes in the area.
Our initial proposal
We discussed possible redevelopment options with Rother District Council. From these discussions we developed a proposal to provide:
- A smaller, improved older people’s scheme at Newington Court
- 8 new houses for social rent and shared ownership
- Improvements to the retained block
Existing residents would have the right to return to the refurbished block and there'd be minimal disruption to the GP surgery.
Consultation
In June 2023 we met with residents and their families to explain what our proposal would mean for them and listened to their concerns. We shared copies of the Residents Charter, which sets out our commitment to residents who would have to move out for the redevelopment to take place.
We gathered feedback from residents including:
Landscaping
- Landscaping to be fully accessible and low maintenance
- Areas for residents to plant
- Planting to act as screening to the car park
- Seating by the entrance
- Shaded area with seating and tables
- Boundary hedging
Internal layout/design
- Better quality furniture for communal areas
- Solution to overheating problem, issues with cold water supply
- Flat specific preferences – ensuite, more kitchen counterspace etc, space for washing machine, new bathrooms with improved drainage
- Atrium to be more accessible
- Communal lounge – kitchen with appliances, table and chairs, new TV and sofas, flexible space, comfortable, good quality furniture
We consulted separately with Parish Councillors and representatives for the GP surgery.
In July 2023 we presented layouts and landscape plans to residents and their families, showing how we'd incorporated their ideas to further develop the proposal. Feedback following this event included:
- Residents said they had a better understanding of the layout and overall landscaping.
- Positive comments regarding the raised planters and the rose bed locations
- Generally positive comments regarding bird feeders, level walkways, screening plans and garden areas (front and back) accessible from communal areas.
- A favoured layout for the office and communal lounge spaces (out of a choice of four options).
Plan view of proposed development
Birds-eye, ground level ‘plan view’ below showing (from left to right):
- Eight new 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses with private gardens (running North/South along Pickforde Lane, shown in white/green)
- Parking for residents, visitors and the GP surgery (centre, grey area)
- Refurbished two-storey Independent Living scheme providing 18 energy-efficient one and two bedroom apartments with balconies/terraces.
- Reconfigured office space, mobility scooter parking and communal lounge with outdoor spaces front and rear (yellow/green/grey)
- GP surgery remains (shown in white, below yellow communal areas and to left of yellow atrium).
- New landscaping (green)
- Photos on right-hand side show examples of landscaping, balcony screening and outdoor seating
Summary of proposed development
- The eight new houses will be 100% affordable, including five shared ownership and three social rent.
- The refurbished block will provide 18 homes for Independent Living residents who meet the Local Authority’s eligibility criteria.
- Liaise with the GP surgery to enable the service to operate with minimum disruption.
- Former residents supported into alternative temporary or permanent accommodation.
See FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) down the right hand side (or below if using a handheld device) for definitions of terms, or ask a question in the Questions and responses section below.
This webpage is now closed for new questions. Please go to our redevelopment webpage for information about our new proposal.
