®Planning appeal decision
Hackwoods Bungalow, Willards Hill, Robertsbridge, TN32 5ET
Planning appeal 6002292 at Hackwoods Bungalow, Willards Hill, Robertsbridge, TN32 5ET (Rother District Council) was dismissed on 27 May 2026 by Inspector De Freitas Terceiro P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy for the supply of housing, with reference to the accessibility of services and facilities.
outline application for the erection of up to two wheelchair accessible, self/custom build dwellings with associated works
- Authority
- Rother District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- De Freitas Terceiro P
- Postcode
- TN32 5ET
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy for the supply of housing, with reference to the accessibility of services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with reference to the High Weald National Landscape
What decided it
The substantial harm to the High Weald National Landscape, a landscape designation with the highest status of protection, outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision.
The benefits of the scheme, including contribution to housing supply, delivery of accessible accommodation, ecological enhancements, and social and economic benefits, would not outweigh the substantial harm to the National Landscape, a designation with the highest status of protection.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy OSS1Policy OSS2Policy OSS3Policy OSS4Policy RA2Policy RA3Policy SRM1Policy TR3Policy DIM2Policy DEN1Policy DEN2Policy EN1Policy EN3Policy HO1Policy IN4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 189
- Judgments
- North Wiltshire District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment (1993) 65 P & CR 137; Baroness Cumberlege v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government [2017] EWHC 2057
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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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.