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Dismissed12 August 20253354390

The Old Lodge, Ditton Place, Brantridge Lane, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6JR

Planning appeal 3354390 at The Old Lodge, Ditton Place, Brantridge Lane, Balcombe, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6JR (Mid Sussex District Council) was dismissed on 12 August 2025 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be suitably located having regard to development plan policies concerning development in the countryside.

‘Change of use of paddock to garden land. Erection of a residential outbuilding’

Authority
Mid Sussex District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Change of use
Inspector
Smith J
Postcode
RH17 6JR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposed development would be suitably located having regard to development plan policies concerning development in the countryside
  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to whether it would conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the High Weald National Landscape (HWNL)
  • the benefits of the proposed development with reference to the particular needs of a member of the appellant's family having regard to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010

What decided it

The harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and failure to demonstrate high-quality design, even when weighed against the significant personal and equality benefits to the disabled family member, was not sufficient to justify departure from the development plan.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DP12Policy DP15Policy DP16Policy DP26Policy AS3
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 189

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 Mid Sussex

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

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  4. Dismissed9 October 20266005209
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  5. Dismissed9 October 20266005206
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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.