Planning appeal decision
Monument Lane, Lordington, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DR
Planning appeal 3269531 at Monument Lane, Lordington, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DR (South Downs) was dismissed on 15 June 2021 by Inspector Edwards S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the rural character and appearance of the area, including the South Downs National Park.
change of use and alterations to existing derelict folly/viewing tower to form 1 no. private dwelling unit with integral garaging
- Authority
- South Downs
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Edwards S
- Postcode
- PO18 9DR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the rural character and appearance of the area, including the South Downs National Park
- Whether the proposed development and works would preserve the significance of the Grade II listed building known as The Racton Monument and its setting
- Whether the appeal site constitutes a suitable location for the proposal, having regard to local and national planning policies which seek to restrict residential development in the countryside
- The effect of the proposal on protected species
What decided it
The proposal would fail to preserve the significance of the Grade II listed building and its setting, cause unacceptable harm to the landscape character and scenic beauty of the South Downs National Park, and be located in an unsustainable countryside location, with these harms not outweighed by the limited public benefits.
The modest public benefits of housing supply and building restoration were outweighed by the less than substantial harm to the listed building's significance, the significant harm to the rural character and landscape of the National Park, and the unsustainable location of the development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SD1Policy SD4Policy SD5Policy SD6Policy SD7Policy SD8Policy SD12Policy SD13Policy SD25Policy 1 of the South Downs Partnership Management Plan 2020-2025Policy 9 of the South Downs Partnership Management Plan 2020-2025
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 172Paragraph 189Paragraph 196Paragraph 79Paragraph 170
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in South Downs
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed14 July 20266001892Empshott Grange, Church Lane, Empshott, Hampshire, GU33 6HT
- Dismissed23 June 20266001025Roman Mile Farm, Bignor Park Road, Bignor, West Sussex, RH20 1HQ
- Dismissed28 May 20266004671Reeves Britannia, 140 The Causeway, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4LL
- Dismissed27 May 20266006395Weyridge, The Street, Binsted, Hampshire, GU34 4PF
- Dismissed11 May 2026600074417 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LN
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
®