®Planning appeal decision
Cowden Farm, Mayfield Road, Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN20 6HL
Planning appeal 3367979 at Cowden Farm, Mayfield Road, Five Ashes, East Sussex, TN20 6HL (Wealden District Council) was dismissed on 22 October 2025 by Inspector Francis L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area with particular regard to the landscape, scenic and natural beauty of the HWNL.
the demolition and conversion of redundant farm buildings to provide 2 x 2 bed cottages, 1 x 3 bed unit and 1 x 4 bed unit with parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Wealden District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Francis L
- Postcode
- TN20 6HL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area with particular regard to the landscape, scenic and natural beauty of the HWNL
- whether the proposal would preserve the setting of the Grade II listed Lower Cowden
- whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the spatial strategy, public transport network and accessibility of services
- the effect of the proposal on ecology
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and the less than substantial harm to the setting of the Grade II listed Lower Cowden, combined with the unsustainable location and insufficient ecological evidence, engaged the exception to the tilted balance in paragraph 11(d)(i) of the Framework, outweighing the modest public benefits of housing delivery.
The modest public benefits of 4 additional homes, beneficial reuse of vacant buildings, and socio-economic benefits were outweighed by the less than substantial harm to the designated heritage asset, harm to the character and appearance of the National Landscape, unsustainable location, and insufficient ecological evidence; the exception in paragraph 11(d)(i) of the Framework applied, removing the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Local Plan Policy EN6Local Plan Policy EN1Local Plan Policy DC8Local Plan Policy GD2Local Plan Policy DC17Core Strategy Policy WCS14Core Strategy Policy WCS6Core Strategy Policy WCS12Spatial Planning Objective SPO1Spatial Planning Objective SPO2Spatial Planning Objective SPO7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 189Paragraph 193
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Wealden District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Notice varied and upheld28 September 20263356589Land An New House Farm, Buckham Hill, Isfield, East Sussex, TN22 5XU
- Dismissed25 September 20266009517Fairfield Cottage, Cross In Hand Road, Heathfield, TN21 0SN
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.