®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, West Sussex, RH20 2LG
Planning appeal 3309743 at Land West of Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, West Sussex, RH20 2LG (Horsham District Council) was dismissed on 27 June 2025 by Inspector Pleasant L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development would be in a suitable location having regard to local planning policy.
Without planning permission, the material change of use of the land from agriculture to a mixed use of agriculture and for the stationing of a caravan for the purposes of human habitation together with associated operational development comprising the installation of a septic tank in the approximate position shown on the attached plan
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Pleasant L
- Postcode
- RH20 2LG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the development would be in a suitable location having regard to local planning policy
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the development on the integrity of the Arun Valley SAC, SPA and Ramsar, with particular reference to water neutrality
What decided it
The development would likely have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the Arun Valley SAC/SPA through failure to demonstrate water neutrality, which provides a clear reason for refusal under NPPF footnote 7 and displaces the presumption in favour of development.
The adverse impacts identified—harm to protected habitats, breach of settlement strategy, and significant harm to character and appearance—substantially and demonstrably outweigh the limited economic and social benefits of a single dwelling, when assessed against the NPPF taken as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 2 HDPFPolicy 3 HDPFPolicy 4 HDPFPolicy 20 HDPFPolicy 25 HDPFPolicy 26 HDPFPolicy 31 HDPF
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 135Paragraph 187
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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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Horsham District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed29 October 20266008830Staalcot Farm Stall House Lane, Stall House Lane, North Heath, RH20 2HR
- Notice upheld16 September 20263373450Development Site Lot 3, Kent Street, Cowfold, West Sussex, RH13 8BB
- Notice varied and upheld15 September 2026335577812 Great Lime Kilns, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9JL
- Notice upheld18 June 20263343866Pengarth, 11 Nightingales, West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 2QT
- Split Decision29 May 202633757682 Greenacres Farm West Chiltington Lane, Billingshurst, RH14 9DR
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.