Planning appeal decision
Handsel Lodge, Junction Road, Ewhurst , Staplecross, TN32 5SH
Planning appeal 3323506 at Handsel Lodge, Junction Road, Ewhurst , Staplecross, TN32 5SH (Rother District Council) was allowed on 5 January 2024 by Inspector Bowyer J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed dwelling would be in a suitable location having regard to its location in the countryside, its effect on the supply of sites of economic value and accessibility to services, facilities and transport links.
use of the building as a dwellinghouse along with associated works, gardens and parking. Use of existing access
- Authority
- Rother District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Bowyer J
- Postcode
- TN32 5SH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed dwelling would be in a suitable location having regard to its location in the countryside, its effect on the supply of sites of economic value and accessibility to services, facilities and transport links
- the effect of the proposal on the landscape, character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and the modest adverse impacts of the proposal did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the substantial benefits of housing delivery and reuse of a redundant building.
the modest adverse impacts of countryside location, loss of employment use and reliance on private vehicles were outweighed by the substantial benefit of housing delivery in the context of a significant shortfall in housing land supply, the reuse of a redundant building, and limited environmental benefits, applying the tilted balance under Framework paragraph 11(d)
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy OSS1Policy OSS2Policy OSS3Policy OSS4Policy RA3Policy EC3Policy TR3Policy SRM1Policy EN1Policy EN3Policy DCO1Policy DEN1Policy DEN2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 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 appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Rother District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed12 October 20266010105Upper Morgay Wood, Junction Road, Staplecross, TN32 5SH
- Dismissed22 September 20266008634Barn House, Warren Road, Fairlight, TN35 4AN
- Allowed21 September 20266009677Black Cottage, Henley Down, Catsfield, TN33 9BN
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.
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