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Dismissed14 November 20233314311

North Down Christmas Tree Plantation, Mayfield Road, Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN20 6JG

Planning appeal 3314311 at North Down Christmas Tree Plantation, Mayfield Road, Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN20 6JG (Wealden District Council) was dismissed on 14 November 2023 by Inspector Hobbs J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

conversion of redundant barn to a single residential dwelling together with associated provision of residential curtilage, parking and landscaping

Authority
Wealden District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Hobbs J
Postcode
TN20 6JG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
  • whether the building is suitable for a residential conversion
  • whether the appeal site is an appropriate location for a residential use, with regard to the development strategy and accessibility of facilities and services

What decided it

The significantly harmful effect on the character and appearance of the High Weald AONB, combined with failure to comply with Local Plan policies on rural building conversion and locational appropriateness, outweighed the limited benefit of providing one dwelling in an area with housing shortfall.

The limited benefits of providing a new dwelling would not outweigh the collective harms to the High Weald AONB and conflict with the strategic locational objectives of the development plan.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
SPO1SPO13EN1EN6EN14EN27WCS6GD2DC17DC6DC8WCS12SPO7
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 80Paragraph 219Paragraph 11

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Wealden District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

  1. Allowed23 September 20253364183
    Barn at Otham Court Lane, Polegate, BN26 6QS
  2. Dismissed9 April 20243329513
    Tinkers Wood, Tinkers Lane, Hadlow Down, East Sussex, TN22 4ET
  3. Dismissed3 January 20243314222
    Perrymans End, Perrymans Lane, Heron's Ghyll, Uckfield, TN22 4BX
  4. Allowed29 September 20213264403
    Land Adjacent Whitethorn Back Lane, Waldron, Heathfield, TN21 0NH
  5. Dismissed23 October 20266011286
    37 High Street, Frant, TN3 9DT

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.