®Planning appeal decision
Land East of 4 Brook Cottages, Mill Lane, Westbourne, West Sussex, PO10 8RT
Planning appeal 6001073 at Land East of 4 Brook Cottages, Mill Lane, Westbourne, West Sussex, PO10 8RT (Chichester District Council) was dismissed on 10 February 2026 by Inspector Szymanski D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether or not the proposal is compliant with development plan policies for the location of new residential development.
Erection of 1 no. dwelling
- Authority
- Chichester District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Szymanski D
- Postcode
- PO10 8RT
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether or not the proposal is compliant with development plan policies for the location of new residential development
- the effect of the proposal upon the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the proposal upon designated habitats sites
- whether or not the proposal would make adequate provision for mitigating effects upon the highway network
What decided it
The absence of certainty regarding the form and delivery of mitigation for increased nitrate inputs to designated habitats sites, which under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 precludes the proposal from proceeding.
The benefits of housing delivery, self-build provision, economic benefits during construction, and potential ecological enhancements (together attracting weight of a high order) were substantially outweighed by significant harm to character and appearance, conflict with recently adopted development plan policies for location of development, and the regulatory precondition that the proposal would not adversely affect the integrity of habitats sites (together attracting very substantial weight against the scheme).
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S2Policy NE11Policy OA1Policy P2Policy LD1Policy P1Policy P3Policy NE8Policy NE17Policy T1Policy I1Policy T2Policy H6
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 135Paragraph 193Paragraph 195Paragraph 216Paragraph 8Paragraph 109Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 58
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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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Allowed29 December 20223298685Howfold Barn, Howfold Farm, Wisborough Green, West Sussex, RH14 0EG
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.