Thistledown Farm, Framfield Road, Blackboys, TN22 5HD

demolition of a poultry unit (with extant change of use consent to 1 no. C3 dwelling under WD/19/0672/P04) and two adjacent farm buildings and their replacement with a new build dwelling, garage and shed

Authority: Wealden District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Smith J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to its accessibility to services and facilities
the effect on ancient woodland

What decided it

The unacceptable risk of harm to ancient woodland from the proposed garden's proximity to Tickerage Wood, which is not replicated by the fallback conversion scheme, provided a clear reason for refusal under Framework paragraph 11d).

The harm to irreplaceable ancient woodland habitat was not outweighed by the fallback position or any other material considerations, including the contribution to housing supply and self-build provision.

Framework references: 11, 180

Plan policies cited: GD2, DC17, EN1, EN13, WCS6, WCS14, WCS13, SP07, SP01

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

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