®Planning appeal decision
Land east of Sandy Cross Lane, Heathfield, TN21 8QQ
Outline planning application with all matters reserved bar access, for the erection of up to 8 self-build/custom housebuilding dwellings and ancillary works
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to any effect on the setting of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- whether the site would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to its accessibility to services and facilities
- whether Sandy Cross Lane would provide safe and suitable vehicular access to the proposed dwellings
- the effect on biodiversity with particular regard to habitat connectivity
What decided it
The shortfall in five-year housing land supply triggered the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and the benefits of housing delivery, self-build provision, and affordable housing contributions outweighed the moderate harm to character and appearance and limited conflict with settlement boundary policies.
the benefits of housing delivery, self-build housing provision, and affordable housing contributions (given significant weight) outweighed the moderate harm to character and appearance and limited conflict with settlement boundary policies (given moderate and limited weight respectively), applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development
Framework references: 11, 64, 130
Plan policies cited: Policy GD2, Policy DC17, Policy EN1, Policy EN6, Policy EN12, Policy EN14, Policy EN27, Policy TR3, Policy AFH1, Policy WCS12, Policy WCS14, Spatial Planning Objective SPO1, Spatial Planning Objective SPO7, Spatial Planning Objective SPO12, Spatial Planning Objective SPO13
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.