®Planning appeal decision
Land at Manor Park, Mark Cross Lane, Ripe, BN8 6AW
for the demolition of a storage building, garage and all weather tennis court and the erection of 4no. dwellings
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Ellis G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be in a suitable location for housing
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including the setting of the Ripe Conservation Area and the Low Weald landscape
- flood risk
- protected species
What decided it
The failure to satisfy the sequential test for flood risk, combined with the site's unsuitability as a location for housing and harmful impact on character and appearance, means the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply and the proposal conflicts with the development plan as a whole.
The modest positive contribution to housing supply and economic benefits during construction and occupation were outweighed by the conflict with the development plan, the unsuitability of the location, harmful effects on character and appearance, and the failure to satisfy flood risk requirements.
Framework references: 11, 83, 125, 135, 173, 175
Plan policies cited: GD2, DC17, EN1, EN8, EN27, SPO1, WCS6, WCS12, WCS14
Judgments cited: Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin)
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.