White Farm Back Lane, Waldron, HEATHFIELD, TN21 0NE

demolition, minor alterations and change of use of disused and redundant former chicken shed to dwellinghouse

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

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having particular regard to the accessibility of services and facilities
Whether the existing chicken shed is capable of conversion to habitable use without significant rebuilding or modification
The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of its immediate setting, including the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Wealds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What decided it

The proposal would result in limited and localised harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, and paragraph 176 of the Framework requires great weight to be given to conserving and enhancing this beauty, providing a clear reason for refusing the development.

The benefits of housing delivery (limited weight for a single dwelling given the shortfall in supply) were outweighed by the requirement to give great weight to conserving and enhancing the AONB landscape and scenic beauty under paragraph 176 of the Framework, which provides a clear reason for refusal.

Framework references: 80, 104, 105, 174, 176, 126, 130, 11

Plan policies cited: Policy WCS14, Spatial Planning Objective SPO7, Policy EN1, Policy GD2, Policy DC17, Policy DC8, Policy EN6, Spatial Planning Objective SPO13, Policy EN27, Spatial Planning Objective SPO2

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.

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