®Planning appeal decision
The Spoons, Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, Pulborough, RH20 2LG
Planning appeal 3336456 at The Spoons, Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, Pulborough, RH20 2LG (Horsham District Council) was dismissed on 25 June 2025 by Inspector Pleasant L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.
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
- Postcode
- RH20 2LG
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.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 23Policy 24Policy 25Policy 26Policy 31Policy 33
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 13Paragraph 99Paragraph 135Paragraph 187Paragraph 195
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Horsham District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed29 October 20266008830Staalcot Farm Stall House Lane, Stall House Lane, North Heath, RH20 2HR
- Notice upheld16 September 20263373450Development Site Lot 3, Kent Street, Cowfold, West Sussex, RH13 8BB
- Notice varied and upheld15 September 2026335577812 Great Lime Kilns, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9JL
- Notice upheld18 June 20263343866Pengarth, 11 Nightingales, West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 2QT
- Split Decision29 May 202633757682 Greenacres Farm West Chiltington Lane, Billingshurst, RH14 9DR
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.