®Planning appeal decision
Highbrook Fencing, Hammingden Lane, Ardingly, HAYWARDS HEATH, RH17 6SS
demolition of existing buildings, removal of plant, machinery and equipment and clearance of the site. Cessation of the use of the site as a sawmill. Erection of four detached dwellings and provision of revised access to the site, with new road and parking
- Authority
- Mid Sussex District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Parker R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for housing, having regard to its accessibility to services and facilities and the development plan
- the effect of the proposals on the character and appearance of the area, with particular reference to the location of the site within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- whether the scheme under Appeal B includes sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with development plan policy in respect of sustainable design and construction
What decided it
The site's poor accessibility to services and facilities and its location outside any built-up area boundary in a Category 5 settlement, combined with the suburban character of Appeal A conflicting with the rural AONB setting, meant the proposals conflicted with the development plan taken as a whole with no material considerations to justify approval.
The delivery of 4 new homes (Appeal A) and 1 new home (Appeal B) and the redevelopment of previously developed land were outweighed by the poor locational sustainability, reliance on private car use, conflict with development plan spatial strategy and transport objectives, and in Appeal A the visual harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald AONB; the modest social and economic benefits did not overcome the development plan conflict.
Framework references: 79, 105, 15, 11
Plan policies cited: Policy DP12, Policy DP15, Policy DP6, Policy DP21, Policy DP16, Policy DP39, Policy DP17
Judgments cited: Braintree District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Ors [2018]
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.