Walsinham, Shrub Lane, Burwash, TN19 7BU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the site is suitable for a residential development having regard to local and national policies for the location of housing
• whether the proposal would conserve or enhance the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape

What decided it

The garage would cause unacceptable harm to the High Weald National Landscape as a large, bulky, visually intrusive feature with no public benefit, whereas the dwelling and access would cause very limited landscape harm and the housing benefit combined with the Council's significant shortfall in housing supply justified allowing those elements under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.

For the garage: significant harm to the High Weald National Landscape (great weight) against private benefit only, resulting in refusal. For the dwelling and access: very limited harm to the High Weald National Landscape and limited weight to spatial strategy conflict (due to housing shortfall) against the social and economic benefit of providing an additional dwelling, resulting in allowance under the presumption in favour of sustainable development.