®Planning appeal decision
Barnwood Stables, Hurston Lane , Storrington , Sussex, RH20 4HF
change of use from a 3 box stable yard with tack room and barn to a 3 bedroom residential lodge for living purposes. Concrete base is already in place. Build to include installing a septic tank for waste and the installation of an oil tank to provide heating for the property. The location has mains supply water and is in the process of obtaining an electricity supply through UK Power Networks
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Small M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is in an appropriate location for housing having regard to local and national policies and the accessibility of facilities and services
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity
- the effect of the proposed development on the safe and convenient use of the highway, with particular regard to walkers and cyclists
What decided it
The adverse impacts of the proposal—its isolated location requiring car dependency, harm to rural character, unresolved biodiversity concerns, and unsafe access for pedestrians and cyclists—significantly and demonstrably outweigh the minimal social and economic benefits of a single modest dwelling.
The benefits of contributing one modest dwelling to housing supply were outweighed by the significant harms to location sustainability, character and appearance, biodiversity, and highway safety for vulnerable users, even with the tilted balance engaged by the lack of 5-year housing land supply.
Framework references: 11, 14, 60, 69, 79, 80, 110, 112, 119, 123, 124, 130, 174
Plan policies cited: Policy 1 SSWNP, Policy 2 HDPF, Policy 3 HDPF, Policy 4 HDPF, Policy 9 SSWNP, Policy 25 HDPF, Policy 26 HDPF, Policy 27 HDPF, Policy 31 HDPF, Policy 32 HDPF, Policy 33 HDPF, Policy 40 HDPF
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.