®Planning appeal decision
Land at Bird in Eye Farm, South of Bird In Eye Hill (Framfield Parish), Framfield Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5HA
the erection of up to 290 dwellings, associated landscaping, informal open space and strategic SANG, with access from the B2102
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Butcher H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would result in the loss or deterioration of ancient woodland and the effect of the development on protected species
- The effect of the development on highway safety
- The effect of the development on flood risk
- The effect of the development on drainage
- Whether the site is a suitable location for housing having regard to accessibility and local planning policy
- Whether the development would preserve the setting of the Grade II Listed Uckfield oasthouse
What decided it
The cumulative and individually significant harms to ancient woodland, highway safety, flood risk (via an inadequate Sequential Test) and the setting of the listed oasthouse were not outweighed by the substantial benefits of the proposed housing.
The substantial benefits of up to 290 homes, including affordable and self-build housing, did not outweigh the cumulative harm to ancient woodland, highway safety, flood risk and heritage setting, so the balance tipped against the proposal.
Framework references: 105, 180, 199, 202
Plan policies cited: Policy EN1, Policy EN12, Policy EN13, Policy EN15, Policy WCS12, Policy TR3, Spatial Planning Objective SPO12, Policy EN2, Policy TR13, Spatial Planning Objective SPO7, Spatial Planning Objective SPO15, Policy WCS7, Policy GD2, Policy DC17, Spatial Planning Objective SPO2, Policy CS1
Judgments cited: Wathen-Fayed v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
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.