®Planning appeal decision
Blackbrooks Garden Centre, Lower Dicker, Hailsham, BN27 4BJ
Planning appeal 3292375 at Blackbrooks Garden Centre, Lower Dicker, Hailsham, BN27 4BJ (Wealden District Council) was allowed on 13 July 2023 by Inspector Naylor R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be sited in a suitable location for housing having regard to the national and local planning policies.
the demolition of existing garden centre building and bungalow. The redevelopment of the site for up to 45 no. dwellings, gardens and parking and use of existing access to the A22. The provision of SUDS, open space, playspace and strategic landscaping including retention of existing boundary screening
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Naylor R
- Postcode
- BN27 4BJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be sited in a suitable location for housing having regard to the national and local planning policies
- the effect of the proposed development on the supply of local services
What decided it
The substantial shortfall in five-year housing land supply (3.66 years) engaged the tilted balance, and the significant benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing, self-build provision and other social, economic and environmental benefits substantially outweighed the harm from locating development outside the defined settlement boundary.
The conflict with the spatial strategy (WLP Policies GD2, DC17 and WCS Policy WCS6) attracted significant weight as harm, but this was substantially outweighed by the significant weight given to the contribution of 45 dwellings (including 35% affordable housing and 5% self-build), the substantial weight of the housing land supply shortfall, and the substantial weight of social, economic and environmental benefits including green infrastructure, recreation space, bus service improvements, and biodiversity net gain.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Wealden Local Plan Policy EN1Wealden Local Plan Policy GD2Wealden Local Plan Policy DC17Wealden Local Plan Policy TR3Wealden Local Plan Policy EN8Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan Policy WCS6Hellingly Neighbourhood Plan Policy LD1Affordable Housing Delivery Local Plan Policy AFH1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 14Paragraph 56Paragraph 57Paragraph 65Paragraph 84
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 Wealden District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Dismissed25 September 20266009517Fairfield Cottage, Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0SN
- Allowed15 September 20266008314Land off Eastbourne Road, Polegate, BN26 5DD
- Dismissed22 July 20266006344Dog Walking Field, Burnt Oak Road, High Hurstwood, TN22 4AE
- Dismissed17 July 20266007376Land Adjoining 154 Station Road, Hailsham, BN27 2SB
- Allowed17 July 20266005293Milton Gate Farm, Milton Street, Polegate, BN26 5RS
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.