Planning appeal decision
1 Forge Close, Staplecross, Robertsbridge, TN32 5QF
Planning appeal 3283575 at 1 Forge Close, Staplecross, Robertsbridge, TN32 5QF (Rother District Council) was dismissed on 20 December 2021 by Inspector Allan J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal property and the wider street scene.
extensions and alterations, loft improvements with new dormers, and addition of entrance porch
- Authority
- Rother District Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Allan J
- Postcode
- TN32 5QF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal property and the wider street scene
- the living conditions at Streatfield Cottage, Manor Cottage and 2 Forge Close, with particular regard to visual impact
What decided it
The east side extension would add excessive bulk in a form that would be out of keeping with the scale, form, character and appearance of the original dwelling and surrounding buildings, resulting in a building that would look incongruous and out of character.
The applicants' need to enlarge living space to support their growing family did not outweigh the identified harm to character and appearance and the failure to achieve appropriate design quality.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DHG9: Extensions, Alterations and OutbuildingsPolicy OSS4: General Development ConsiderationsPolicy EN3: Design Quality
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 Rother District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed22 October 2026601553265 Westfield Lane, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7NF
- Dismissed14 October 20266007775Land Adjacent to Broadlawns, Whitebread Lane, Beckley, TN31 6TY
- Dismissed12 October 20266010105Upper Morgay Wood, Junction Road, Staplecross, TN32 5SH
- Dismissed22 September 20266008634Barn House, Warren Road, Fairlight, TN35 4AN
- Allowed21 September 20266009677Black Cottage, Henley Down, Catsfield, TN33 9BN
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.
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