®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Parsons Field Stables, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DA
Planning appeal 3368741 at Land West of Parsons Field Stables, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1DA (Horsham District Council) was dismissed on 14 October 2025 by Inspector King T, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The appeal on ground (b): whether the breach alleged has occurred as a matter of fact, in particular whether the access previously existed.
Material change of use of the land from agriculture to the stationing of caravans for human habitation, together with associated operational development including a widened/new access, hardstanding, a septic tank, buildings (day rooms, stables and an American barn), concrete bases, gates and fencing
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- King T
- Postcode
- RH20 1DA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The appeal on ground (b): whether the breach alleged has occurred as a matter of fact, in particular whether the access previously existed
- The appeal on ground (f): whether the requirements of the notice exceed what is reasonably necessary to remedy the breach or any injury to amenity
- The appeal on ground (g): whether the periods specified in the notice fall short of what should reasonably be allowed
What decided it
The appellants failed to provide compelling evidence to rebut the Council's case that the access had been newly created, and established case law confirmed the notice could lawfully require removal of facilitative works and closure of the access.
The disruption to the children's education and family circumstances was given some significant weight but did not outweigh the need for the phased compliance timetable requiring cessation of the use and remedial works within the specified periods.
What the Inspector cited
- Judgments
- Murfitt v SSE & East Cambridgeshire DC [1980] JPL 598; Somak Travel v SSE & Brent LBC [1987] JPL 630; Stevens v SSCLG [2013] EWHC 792 (Admin); Collins v SSCLG [2013] EWCA Civ 1193
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 Horsham District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed29 October 20266008830Staalcot Farm Stall House Lane, Stall House Lane, North Heath, RH20 2HR
- Notice upheld16 September 20263373450Development Site Lot 3, Kent Street, Cowfold, West Sussex, RH13 8BB
- Notice varied and upheld15 September 2026335577812 Great Lime Kilns, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9JL
- Notice upheld18 June 20263343866Pengarth, 11 Nightingales, West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 2QT
- Split Decision29 May 202633757682 Greenacres Farm West Chiltington Lane, Billingshurst, RH14 9DR
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.