A well-balanced community within the High Weald AONB. This sensitive extension delivers new homes while protecting and enhancing the site’s landscape character.
Located on the northeastern edge of Crowborough, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Steel Cross development occupies a gently sloping, 7.87-hectare site framed by mature trees, hedgerows and open countryside. Just 1.5 miles from the town centre and within walking distance of local schools, shops and rail connections, the site offers an ideal balance of rural character and urban accessibility. Phase 2 builds on the consented masterplan, increasing the number of homes from 103 to 120 without compromising the site’s open space or ecological value.
Client
Dandara Homes
Sector
Masterplanning
Location
Crowborough
Ward
Wealden District Council
Value
£Undisclosed
Status
Completed
The revised layout delivers a wide mix of one to five-bedroom homes, supporting a diverse and inclusive community. 40% of dwellings are designated as affordable housing, with a balanced mix of tenures including Social Rent, Affordable Rent, Shared Ownership and First Homes. Six custom-build plots also offer residents the opportunity to personalise internal layouts and finishes. The site will be delivered in a single construction phase, with Phase I remaining as originally consented, and Phase II increasing from 49 to 66 homes within the same development footprint and infrastructure network.
Landscape is integral to the design, with retained and enhanced tree belts, planted buffers, and two new play areas ensuring green space remains central to daily life. All homes are two storeys in height, with traditional roof forms, varied massing and carefully articulated street scenes that reflect the local vernacular. A retained SuDS drainage strategy, well-connected foot and cycle paths, and proximity to Beacon Academy and the wider countryside position Steel Cross as a sustainable, future-ready neighbourhood shaped by both community needs and environmental stewardship.
