About the Swanborough Drive project
The site on Swanborough Drive is a former play area and bee bank in North Whitehawk. It's allocated for housing development in the City Plan Part 2.
The project is being brought forward to provide some much needed new, affordable council rented homes for local people on the council’s housing register.
The plans include:
- 36 new homes - a mix of one, two and three beds including four fully wheelchair accessible flats
- a community space - designed for use by a range of local community groups and for a variety of activities
- landscaping to maximise biodiversity on site - including green roofs, a mix of fruit trees and hedgerows
- parking space including:
- accessible car parking spaces on site
- provision for three car club spaces
- a bike share docking hub
- secure resident cycle parking
- improvements to the bus stops and the promotion of sustainable travel - including car share
The planning application was submitted February 2025 and decided at Committee on 4 February this year, 2026.
You can view the details of the application on the Planning portal using the application reference BH2025/00532, or search by address.
Project history
The site is listed in the City Plan Part 2 for housing development and being brought forward to deliver some much needed new council homes in north Whitehawk.
Early on, the council commissioned Planning for Real, an independent organisation, to work with local stakeholders and residents on how the site might be developed. This early consultation helped shape:
- the mix and type of new homes needed
- what the wider benefit to the local community might be
Architects Mackellar Schwerdt Architects developed the design proposals taking into account:
- community feedback
- Planning policy, advice and guidance
- the best use of the site to provide good quality, sustainable and energy-efficient homes
The proposals were subject to the formal Planning consultation process and the application decided at Committee in February.
Public consultation events
Previous events
A full programme of community and stakeholder consultation took place in 2022. This consultation was led and delivered by Planning for Real, an independent national organisation supporting communities to bring about change and shape their neighbourhoods.
Further rounds of resident engagement took place in April 2024 and November 2024. Residents were able to view the design proposals as they were developed and meet and talk to members of the design team and council officers.
Planning consultation
The formal Planning consultation took place between February 20325 – February 2026. Changes included improvements in particular to:
- the Transport Statement, to better address concerns about the impact on street parking
- the plans to protect wildlife through provision of some biodiversity improvements off site
You can view the full application and all supporting documents on the Planning portal. Use the application reference BH2025/00532 or search by address.
Time plan
The Planning application was decided 4 February 2026
Now approved, the Estate Regeneration team will go ahead and procure a main contractor to build the new homes.
The main contractor will have some time to complete the technical aspects of the design work and mobilise, including preparing and securing the site.
The earliest anticipated start on site is early 2027, with the construction phased completed and handover in late 2028.
