Little London, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 0AY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site is a suitable location for the development with regard to the Council's spatial strategy for the area and accessibility to services and facilities
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including whether it would conserve or enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular regard to visibility
• The effect of the proposal on biodiversity, with particular regard to bats

What decided it

The proposal conflicts with the development plan read as a whole on multiple grounds (sustainability of location, character and appearance, highway safety, and biodiversity), and the Framework's policies protecting the AONB provide a clear reason for refusal that displaces the presumption in favour of sustainable development despite the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

The modest benefits of providing two dwellings and some economic benefits were outweighed by the significant harm to the AONB landscape, unsustainable location requiring car dependency, unacceptable highway safety risks, and unresolved biodiversity concerns regarding bats, with the AONB protection policies providing a clear reason for refusal.