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Dismissed10 October 20253364884

Sandy Meadow Farm, Bignor Park Road, Bignor, West Sussex, RH20 1HQ

Planning appeal 3364884 at Sandy Meadow Farm, Bignor Park Road, Bignor, West Sussex, RH20 1HQ (South Downs) was dismissed on 10 October 2025 by Inspector Raygen Z, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on ancient woodland.

5 pitch settled gypsy accommodation site including landscaping and biodiversity enhancements

Authority
South Downs
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector
Raygen Z
Postcode
RH20 1HQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposal on ancient woodland
  • The effect of the proposal on the Arun Valley designated sites as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar with regard to water neutrality
  • The effect of the development on the Mens Special Area of Conservation and the Ebernoe Common Special Area of Conservation
  • The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
  • Whether or not there are other considerations weighing in favour of the proposed development

What decided it

The harm to ancient woodland, an irreplaceable habitat, which the Framework requires wholly exceptional reasons to justify and which were not present.

The substantial weight given to personal circumstances and lack of alternative accommodation, and significant weight to the unmet pitch need, did not outweigh the harm to ancient woodland and conflict with the development plan as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 4 of the NPPolicy SD1Policy SD9Policy SD11Policy 16 of the NPPolicy SD17Policy SD2Policy SD4Policy SD5Policy SD7Policy SD8Policy 2 of the NPPolicy 13 of the NPPolicy 14 of the NPPolicy 15 of the NPPolicy SD33
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.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in South Downs

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

  1. Dismissed14 July 20266001892
    Empshott Grange, Church Lane, Empshott, Hampshire, GU33 6HT
  2. Dismissed23 June 20266001025
    Roman Mile Farm, Bignor Park Road, Bignor, West Sussex, RH20 1HQ
  3. Dismissed28 May 20266004671
    Reeves Britannia, 140 The Causeway, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4LL
  4. Dismissed27 May 20266006395
    Weyridge, The Street, Binsted, Hampshire, GU34 4PF
  5. Dismissed11 May 20266000744
    17 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.

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.