®Planning appeal decision
Land to the south of Hilland Farm, Stane Street, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9HN
the development of up to 9,825 sq m of Class E (Industrial Processes), B2 and B8 floorspace
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- employment-industrial · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Woodwards O
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with regard to landscape character
- whether or not the appeal site is an appropriate location for development of this type, having regard to local and national planning policy and guidance
- whether or not there is a need for the type of employment floorspace proposed by the appeal scheme
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate a need for the proposed employment floorspace on an unallocated greenfield site outside the built-up area outweighed the benefits, even under the tilted balance.
The significant harm from the lack of demonstrated economic need and conflict with the spatial strategy, combined with moderate harm to character and appearance, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the significant economic benefits and moderate environmental benefits, even with the tilted balance engaged.
Framework references: 11, 12, 15, 47, 57, 81, 176
Plan policies cited: Policy 2, Policy 3, Policy 4, Policy 7, Policy 10, Policy 25, Policy 26, Policy 31, Policy 32, Policy 33, Policy BILL 17, Policy Bill 1
Judgments cited: Council of the City of Newcastle Upon Tyne v SSLUHC[2022] EWHC 2752 (Admin)
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.