®Planning appeal decision
Land adj. 1 Westfield Lane, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7NE
described on the application form as the ‘proposed construction of one detached dwelling with garage and a pair of semi-detached dwellings
- Authority
- Hastings Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Price A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, including on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupants of 1 Westfield Lane, with particular regard to privacy, outlook, noise and disturbance
- the effect of the proposed development on protected trees and Ancient Woodland
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate that the proposed development would not harm the ancient woodland to the north of the site, combined with the harm to character and appearance and living conditions of neighbours, outweighed the housing supply benefits and meant the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
The economic, social and environmental benefits of providing three family dwellings and making use of a sustainable location were outweighed by the harm to character and appearance, living conditions of neighbours, and the unresolved risk of harm to ancient woodland, with the ancient woodland harm providing a clear reason for refusal under Framework paragraph 11(d)(i).
Framework references: 11, 176, 180
Plan policies cited: DM1, DM3, HN9, HN10, EN3, EN4, EN7
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.