The Warren, Stevens Crouch, BATTLE, TN33 9LR

Authority: Rother District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: James A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the appeal site represents a suitable location for the proposed development, having particular regard to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
the effect on great crested newts

What decided it

The proposal would cause significant harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, a protected area to which the highest status of protection must be given, and this harm is not outweighed by the benefits of housing delivery.

The moderate benefits of housing delivery and economic investment were outweighed by the significant harm to the AONB landscape and scenic beauty and poor accessibility by sustainable transport; the AONB protection policies provided a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11d(i) of the Framework, displacing the tilted balance.

Framework references: 80, 176, 11

Plan policies cited: Policy OSS2, Policy OSS4, Policy RA2, Policy RA3, Policy EN1, Policy EN5, Policy DEN1, Policy DEN2, Policy DIM2, Policy BA1

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.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.