Planning appeal decision
Land South of Old Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath
Planning appeal 3301869 at Land South of Old Rocky Lane, Haywards Heath (Mid Sussex District Council) was dismissed on 22 May 2023 by Inspector Jolly J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
to erect 9 apartments within a single, three-storey building, along with access, parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Mid Sussex District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Jolly J
- Postcode
- RH16 4XL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The proposal would appear overly prominent in its specific elevated location next to the A272 and would harm the character and appearance of the area through loss of landscaping and obstruction of views to the South Downs, which modest housing and economic benefits could not outweigh.
The modest economic, social and environmental benefits of delivering 9 dwellings on a small site were insufficient to outweigh the harm to character and appearance
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DP26Policy DP37Policy E9Policy H8
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 130Paragraph 68Paragraph 122
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 Mid Sussex
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Allowed29 October 202660151205, Dexter Drive, East Grinstead, RH19 4SU
- Dismissed22 October 2026601278111 Barnfield, Balcombe, RH17 6FW
- Dismissed9 October 20266010262Development Site At Former Tower Car Sales, Tower Close, East Grinstead, RH19 3BY
- Dismissed9 October 20266005209Lullings Cottage, West Hill, Ardingly, RH17 6QY
- Dismissed9 October 20266005206Lullings Cottage, West Hill, Ardingly, RH17 6QY
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.
®