Land at Mockbeggars Farm, London Road, Budletts Common, Uckfield, TN22 2EB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site lies in an appropriate location for the development proposed and whether the proposal would make the most efficient use of land having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework
• The effect of the proposal on ecology with particular regard to protected species (bats)
• The effect of the proposal on local landscape features
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety
• The effect of the proposal on heritage assets

What decided it

The absence of demonstrable harm on most main issues combined with the significant weight attached to housing and affordable housing delivery, in the context of an inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply, meant the benefits were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the limited harms identified.

The very significant weight given to housing delivery, significant weight to affordable housing, substantial weight to self-build provision, and further weight to economic benefits and biodiversity net gain outweighed the limited landscape harm, less than substantial heritage harm to a non-designated asset, and limited conflict with the development plan, such that the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.