Planning appeal decision
Railway Crossing Cottage, Ersham Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2RG
Planning appeal 3330211 at Railway Crossing Cottage, Ersham Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2RG (Wealden District Council) was dismissed on 3 June 2024 by Inspector Smith 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 area.
proposed erection of 3 detached dwellings together with access road
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith J
- Postcode
- BN27 2RG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the appeal site is a suitable location for housing having regard to application of the sequential test in relation to the risk of surface water flooding
What decided it
The failure to apply the sequential test in relation to surface water flood risk, as required by the Framework and PPG, is a clear reason for refusal that outweighs the modest benefits of housing supply.
the modest benefits of housing supply and efficient use of previously developed land were outweighed by the significant harm associated with development in an area at medium risk of surface water flooding without proper application of the sequential test
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EN8Policy EN27Spatial Planning Objective SPO13Policy HAIL D1Policy CS2Spatial Planning Objective SPO10Policy WCS14Policy SPO14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 135Paragraph 168Paragraph 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 Wealden District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed6 October 20266011082Willow Farm, Under Road, Herstmonceux, BN27 1QE
- Notice varied and upheld28 September 20263356589Land An New House Farm, Buckham Hill, Isfield, East Sussex, TN22 5XU
- Dismissed25 September 20266009517Fairfield Cottage, Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0SN
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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