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Dismissed15 May 20253346513

Land to the North of Marling House, Station Road, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6RT

Planning appeal 3346513 at Land to the North of Marling House, Station Road, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6RT (Wealden District Council) was dismissed on 15 May 2025 by Inspector Nicholls H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the location of development accords with the development plan.

outline permission for residential development of 29 dwellings (including a 40% affordable housing contribution)

Authority
Wealden District Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Nicholls H
Postcode
TN5 6RT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the location of development accords with the development plan
  • the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including on the High Weald National Landscape (HWNL)
  • the effects of the proposal on the setting of Marling House as a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA)

What decided it

The proposal's failure to conserve the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald National Landscape, which attracts great weight and constitutes a strong reason for refusal that disengages the tilted balance, combined with conflicts with development plan policies on settlement boundaries.

The significant benefits of housing delivery (29 dwellings), affordable housing (40%, above the 35% policy requirement), self-build housing provision, economic benefits, and sustainability improvements were outweighed by the failure to conserve the High Weald National Landscape, conflicts with development plan location policies, and modest harm to the setting of the Non-Designated Heritage Asset.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy GD2Policy DC17Policy WCS6Policy WCS9Policy WCS13Policy EN6Policy EN27Policy WAD1Policy WAD2Policy AFH1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 189Paragraph 190Paragraph 216
Judgments
Monkhill Ltd v SSHLG & Anor (Rev 1) [2021] EWCA Civ 74 (28 January 2021); New Forest National Park Authority v SSHCLG & Anor [2025] EWHC 726 (Admin)

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Wealden District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Dismissed25 September 20266009517
    Fairfield Cottage, Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0SN
  2. Dismissed14 April 20266003970
    Little Warren Barn, The Warren, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 1UB
  3. Dismissed27 January 20263370047
    Hedera Cottage North Street, Punnetts Town, Heathfield, TN21 9DT
  4. Dismissed22 January 20263372124
    Birch Holt, Marlpits Lane, Ninfield, East Sussex, TN33 9LD
  5. Allowed31 December 20253366478
    Snatchells Farm, Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0LS

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.