Our sleepy 1,000-year-old village will be ‘wiped out’ by ‘greedy’ Eton College’s plan for monster ‘new town’ next door

A PRESTIGIOUS private school has sparked outrage after revealing plans to build a new town – with fears it will “wipe out” a historic sleepy hamlet. Eton College in Berkshire has been blasted by locals over plans to build more than 3,000 homes on countryside bordering the South Downs National Park. Over 200 protestors gathered outside Plumpton Racecourse on Saturday Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures The plans would see 3,520 homes built on 450 acres next to the hamlet Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Residents of the 1000-year-old ancient village of East Chiltington fear the development will increase the population from 400 to 6,000 – destroying the rural parish. Eton, which was attended by Prince William and Prince Harry, bought the land more than 60 miles away from the school as an investment several years ago. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The institution unveiled plans for the North Barnes Farm development that would see 3,520 homes built on 450 acres next to the hamlet, modelled on the King’s town of Poundbury in Dorset. It is the second time Eton – where Prince George started this week – has tried to develop the land, after a previous scheme in 2021 was rejected by planning authorities seeking to protect East Chiltington. Steve and Carol Funnell branded the move as a ‘cynical money-making exercise’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Residents of East Chiltington fear the development will increase the population from 400 to 6,000 Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Furious residents claim the development on the edge of the heavily protected South Downs National Park would destroy wildlife habitats as well as bring pollution to the area through increased traffic. Steve and Carol Funnell, who have lived in East Chiltington for 34 years, branded the move as a “cynical money-making exercise”. Steve, 64, a retired builder, told The Sun: “This is a tiny hamlet and the impact on the infrastructure would be huge. “The increase in traffic would be insane, the roads just wouldn’t cope. How is the sewage system going to cope? It doesn’t make sense.” Most read in The Sun Carol, 73, a retired teacher, said: “It’s a cynical money-making exercise and it would destroy the environment and the tiny hamlet which has existed here for centuries.” Stephen and Jenni Toomey blasted Eton saying the plans were a “folly” and showed the “blatant greed” of the organisation. Jenni, 72, a retired photographer, said: “It’s greedy and stupid. How can they possibly think that destroying this area is perfectly valid. “It shows a disregard for local people, the environment and shows their blatant greed.” Signs around the village encourage people to get involved in the protest Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Stephen and Jenni Toomey blasted Eton saying the plans were a ‘folly’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Locals have slammed the plans as a ‘cynical money-making exercise’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Furious residents gathered to protect their 1000-year-old ancient village Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Paddy David, 67, a retired teacher, said: “The plans are wholly inappropriate for this area. “They say it will become a commuter town for London but there is just one train an hour and it serves a tiny community. I think it’s wrong-headed and cynical.” Jo White, who runs music charity, Wishing Well, moved to East Chiltington for the rural location and sense of belonging to a community. “That will all be destroyed,” she said. “The plans are laughable. They just want to plonk a whole town in the middle of nowhere with hardly any infrastructure to support it.” The village green in East Chiltington Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Eton College in Berkshire has been blasted by locals over plans to build more than 3,000 homes Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Chris Symes and his wife Mary, who have lived in the hamlet for almost 40 years, said: “It would essentially destroy this entire area. “The roads, the sewage system and things such as schools and doctor’s surgeries just wouldn’t be able to support it. “It’s excessive and it doesn’t matter how they dress it up it’s the wrong development in the wrong place.” Steve Needham, leader of protest group Don’t Urbanise the Downs, said: “The greenfield site is much used and loved by people from far and wide. East Chiltington church – with the village itself dating back 1,000 years Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Locals claim the development would destroy wildlife habitats as well as bring pollution to the area Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures “It is productive farmland, crossed by footpaths, bridleways and narrow lanes lined by ancient hedgerows and trees supporting rare wildlife. “Right next to the South Downs National Park, it must be conserved for future generations. “Blighting this countryside will serve only to swell Eton’s already well-lined coffers. “This ill-considered scheme would bring millions of more car journeys each year adding to road chaos in the surrounding area – which is already gridlocked at key junctions on a daily basis.” He added: “East Chiltington has barely changed in 1,000 years in terms of development. It has a population of about 400. It would be wiped out by this. “It will also consume the villages of Plumpton Green and South Chailey, creating a sprawling new town of some 10,000-plus people.’ James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, is opposing the plans, and said: “Any development would urbanise a unique part of the South Downs. It’s a totally inappropriate site, completely lacking in the necessary infrastructure. “The environmental impact is also very worrying – on animal life and biodiversity. Chris and Mary Symes said ‘It would essentially destroy this entire area’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Paddy David said: ‘The plans are wholly inappropriate for this area.’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures “But the most frightening thing about it is the traffic generation and carbon impact of all those additional vehicles.” Welbeck Land, the developers working alongside Eton, say they will hold an eight-week public consultation on the development. The first event took place at Plumpton Racecourse on Saturday and was met with 200 protesters. A spokesman for Welbeck said they hoped to submit a planning application for the first phase of North Barnes Farm by the end of the year. Alistair Watson, chief executive of Welbeck Land, said the area needs more housing to help bring property prices down. Jo White runs music charity Wishing Well Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Fields on the border of the proposed development Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures The Jolly Sportsman pub sits at the heart of the community Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures Jenni Toomey said the plan is ‘greedy and stupid’ Credit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures He said: “Average house prices in Lewes are 9.4 times average local incomes, and rents went up over 6 per cent last year. “Concentrating new homes and infrastructure in a single location is the best way to meet the area’s needs and can deliver far more benefits than piecemeal development. “Developable land outside the South Downs National Park is scarce. Brownfield sites alone cannot meet local housing need. “These plans offer one of the best opportunities to create sustainable growth in Lewes district, close to a well-connected rail station.” The North Barnes website boasts the development will be a “sustainable community with a central high street at its heart”. There will be land made available to build a new school, nursery and health centre, as well as a sports hub, pavilion and new parkland. A spokesperson for South Downs National Park Authority said: “This proposed development is entirely outside the South Downs National Park and any decision on it would be a matter for Lewes District Council. “Any formal planning application would be subject to a statutory consultation and the National Park Authority would be a consultee as the proposed development borders the National Park.” Lewes District Council declined to comment. Comment now