Pevensey Levels nature conservation area threatened by development

The Pevensey Levels is one of the most important wetland systems in Britain, protected under multiple national and international designations:

Application RR/2023/1721/P, for development at Rosewood Park, north of Bexhill, is an outline application with all matters reserved except access for the erection of up to 340 residential dwellings (including affordable housing), commercial unit (retail/community facility use under classes E/F), public open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage system and vehicular access points.

CPRE Sussex strongly objects to this application as the documentation available in the public domain fails to demonstrate that this proposal will avoid an adverse effect to the Pevensey Levels SAC and Ramsar site. Thus, under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 any grant of permission is unlawful.

The Pevensey Levels are protected under designations: SSSI (1977), National Nature Reserve (1996), Ramsar site (1999), and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (2016). Since 21 May 2026, Ramsar sites receive full statutory protection under the Habitats Regulations, meaning potential harms to both the SAC and Ramsar features must be assessed to the same legal standard.

The designations reflect the Levels’ exceptional ecological value for wetland plants, freshwater molluscs, aquatic beetles, dragonflies, and nationally important wetland bird populations.

Under regulation 63 of the Habitats Regulations, no development may be permitted where a significant effect cannot be ruled out unless an appropriate assessment demonstrates, beyond reasonable scientific doubt, that the conservation objectives of both the SAC and Ramsar site will not be adversely affected.

CPRE Sussex looks forward to the missing information being made available on Rother District Council’s website planning pages and an extension of the period for consultation before this application is put before the Planning Committee.

Read full CPRE Sussex objection: RR-2023-1721-P Rosewood Park