Wedgwood, Farthings Hill, Horsham, RH12 1TS

redevelopment of the site to provide 7 residential units, ancillary parking and landscaping with all matters reserved except access

Authority: Horsham District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Bowyer J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area including in respect of trees
the effect of the proposal on the Arun Valley Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site
the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties with particular regard to privacy, natural light and whether or not it would be overbearing

What decided it

The failure to adequately secure water neutrality mitigation measures to avoid adverse effects on the integrity of the Arun Valley SPA, SAC and Ramsar site, which provided a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework and precluded the proposal under the Habitats Regulations.

The benefits of housing provision and use of brownfield land within the built-up area were outweighed by the adverse effect on designated nature conservation sites and conflict with the Habitats Regulations, together with harm to the character and appearance of the area and conflict with the development plan.

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Policy 25, Policy 32, Policy 33, Policy 31, Policy HB4, Policy HB5

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.