Little Harness Farm, Cowbeech Road, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9QA

Planning appeal 3363710 at Little Harness Farm, Cowbeech Road, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9QA (Wealden District Council) was dismissed on 23 July 2025 by Inspector James A, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether there is an essential need for a permanent agricultural worker's dwelling on the appeal site, having regard to policies which seek to restrict development in the countryside.

‘to retain the existing log cabin as a permanent residential dwelling for agricultural occupancy.’

Authority: Wealden District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: agricultural · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: James A
Postcode: TN21 9QA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether there is an essential need for a permanent agricultural worker's dwelling on the appeal site, having regard to policies which seek to restrict development in the countryside.

What decided it

The appellant failed to demonstrate an essential functional need for a permanent agricultural worker's dwelling and that the enterprise was financially sound with a clear prospect of remaining so.

the moderate weight given to social, economic and environmental benefits was outweighed by the significant weight given to conflict with countryside housing restraint policies, so adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy DC2SPO1SPO13WCS14Policy GD2
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 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.

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The decision letter

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

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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.