®Planning appeal decision
Spring Hayes Ashcombe Lane, Kingston, Lewes, BN7 3JZ
Planning appeal 3362721 at Spring Hayes Ashcombe Lane, Kingston, Lewes, BN7 3JZ (South Downs) was dismissed on 16 September 2025 by Inspector Wright A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on protected species and their habitats, including bats.
the change of use from a paddock to domestic curtilage to formalise use as part of the existing garden
- Authority
- South Downs
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Wright A
- Postcode
- BN7 3JZ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on protected species and their habitats, including bats
- the character and appearance of the area, including whether the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the South Downs National Park
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate that the proposal would not harm protected species and their habitats, including bats, in the absence of a comprehensive ecological appraisal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 5 of the South Downs Partnership Management Plan 2020-2025Policy 1 of the South Downs Partnership Management PlanPolicy 3 of the South Downs Partnership Management PlanPolicy SD1 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD2 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD9 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD11 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD4 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD5 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD6 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD7 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019Policy SD25 of the South Downs Local Plan 2019
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 appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in South Downs
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed14 July 20266001892Empshott Grange, Church Lane, Empshott, Hampshire, GU33 6HT
- Dismissed23 June 20266001025Roman Mile Farm, Bignor Park Road, Bignor, West Sussex, RH20 1HQ
- Dismissed28 May 20266004671Reeves Britannia, 140 The Causeway, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4LL
- Dismissed27 May 20266006395Weyridge, The Street, Binsted, Hampshire, GU34 4PF
- Dismissed11 May 2026600074417 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LN
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.