®Planning appeal decision
Berts Farm, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DA
demolition of existing outbuildings and siting of log cabin style three bedroom dwelling
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Catcheside E
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development, having regard to the spatial strategy set out in the development plan and accessibility to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Arun Valley Special Protection Area (SPA), and the Arun Valley Ramsar Site
- the effect of the proposal on protected species and habitats
What decided it
The absence of an effective mechanism to secure the water offsetting measures necessary to achieve water neutrality meant the proposal would cause adverse effects to the integrity of the Arun Valley European Sites, providing a strong reason for refusal under paragraph 11(d)(i) of the Framework.
The significant positive weight given to housing delivery in an area with a 2.9-year supply was outweighed by the conflict with the development plan spatial strategy and the strong reason for refusal arising from harm to the Arun Valley European Sites, which disapplied the tilted balance.
Framework references: 84, 11
Plan policies cited: Policy 2, Policy 3, Policy 4, Policy 26, Policy 31
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.