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Dismissed18 July 20253357197

Berts Farm, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DA

Planning appeal 3357197 at Berts Farm, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DA (Horsham District Council) was dismissed on 18 July 2025 by Inspector Catcheside E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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.

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
Postcode
RH20 1DA

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 2Policy 3Policy 4Policy 26Policy 31
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 84Paragraph 11

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 Horsham District Council

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

  1. Allowed29 October 20266008830
    Staalcot Farm Stall House Lane, Stall House Lane, North Heath, RH20 2HR
  2. Dismissed19 October 20266007051
    Bentley House, North Heath Lane Industrial Estate, North Heath Lane, Horsham, RH12 5QE
  3. Dismissed15 October 20266012640
    The Fords, Bonfire Hill, Southwater, RH13 9BU
  4. Dismissed13 October 20266008205
    Barnards Nursery, Rock Road, Washington, RH20 3BH
  5. Allowed12 October 20266011680
    Land at High Chaparral, London Road, Washington, RH20 3BP

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.