Tritoma and Charnwood, Harlequin Lane, Crowborough, TN6 1HT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect on living conditions of future occupiers, in terms of privacy and overlooking
• Whether the arrangements made for drainage of surface water and to prevent an unacceptable risk of flooding would be acceptable
• The effect on the biodiversity of Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA)

What decided it

The failure to conclusively demonstrate that surface water drainage would be effective, combined with substantial design and character harm that would persist for the lifetime of the development, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest housing benefit when assessed against NPPF policies as a whole.

The adverse impacts of poor design quality, harm to character and appearance, and failure to positively assure effective surface water drainage significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of providing 4 net new dwellings, when assessed against the policies in the NPPF taken as a whole.