®Planning appeal decision
Holmbush Manor Farm, Hayes Lane, Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 0SL
Planning appeal 3301126 at Holmbush Manor Farm, Hayes Lane, Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 0SL (Horsham District Council) was dismissed on 30 October 2023 by Inspector Buchanan R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is an appropriate location for dwellings by conversion of an existing building having regard to local and national planning policy for residential development.
conversion of existing stables into a new dwelling
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Buchanan R
- Postcode
- RH13 0SL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is an appropriate location for dwellings by conversion of an existing building having regard to local and national planning policy for residential development
- the effect of the proposal on the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Ramsar site having regard to water neutrality
What decided it
The proposal fails to demonstrate water neutrality and would significantly harm the integrity of the European protected sites, providing a clear reason for refusal that removes the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and the site is not an appropriate location for residential development under the development plan spatial strategy.
Although the Council cannot demonstrate a 5-year housing supply and the tilted balance applies, the protection of European protected sites provides a clear reason for refusal that displaces the presumption; the modest social, economic and environmental benefits of two dwellings were outweighed by the conflict with the development plan and the significant harm to protected habitats.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- HDPF Policy 2HDPF Policy 3HDPF Policy 4HDPF Policy 26HDPF Policy 31HDPF Policy 33
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 80
- Judgments
- Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 610; City and Country Bramshill Ltd v SSHLG and others [2021] EWCA Civ 320
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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- Dismissed15 October 20266012640The Fords, Bonfire Hill, Southwater, RH13 9BU
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- Allowed12 October 20266011680Land at High Chaparral, London Road, Washington, RH20 3BP
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.