®Planning appeal decision
The Spoons, Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, PULBOROUGH, RH20 2LG
Without planning permission, material change of use of the land to use for the stationing of caravans for the purposes of human habitation together with the associated operational development comprising the installation of a septic tank in the approximate position shown hatched brown on the attached plan
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Pleasant L
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the occupants of the site would have reasonable access to services and facilities
- the effect of the development on the integrity of the Arun Valley SAC, SPA and Ramsar, with particular reference to water neutrality
- the effect of the development on protected species and the measures necessary to avoid, mitigate or compensate for any negative effects
What decided it
The development would have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Arun Valley SAC/SPA due to inability to demonstrate water neutrality, which under paragraph 195 of the NPPF provides a strong reason for refusal that displaces the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The substantial harm to character and appearance of the countryside and substantial harm to ecology and protected species significantly and demonstrably outweighed the substantial weight given to the lack of alternative accommodation for the Gypsy occupants, assessed against the NPPF taken as a whole.
Framework references: 11, 13, 99, 135, 187, 195
Plan policies cited: Policy 23, Policy 24, Policy 25, Policy 26, Policy 31, Policy 33
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.