®Planning appeal decision
Rocklands, Church Lane, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6UP
conversion of existing stables to form a new two -bedroom detached dwelling
- Authority
- Mid Sussex District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Catcheside E
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the Ardingly Conservation Area (ACA), the site's immediate setting, and the rural landscape
- the effect of the proposal on the setting of the Grade II listed building known as The Croft
- whether the site is suitable for the proposed development, having particular regard to development plan policies for the countryside and accessibility to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on flooding and drainage
What decided it
The harm caused to the character and appearance of the Ardingly Conservation Area through the proposed vehicular access arrangements lacks clear and convincing justification and is not outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme, such that the tilted balance in paragraph 11(d) of the Framework does not apply.
The modest social, economic and environmental benefits of delivering a single dwelling and reusing an underutilised building were outweighed by the great weight afforded to the conservation of the designated heritage asset (the conservation area), as the harm to its significance lacked clear and convincing justification.
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy DP6, Policy DP12, Policy DP15, Policy DP21, Policy DP26, Policy DP34, Policy DP35, Policy ARD5
Judgments cited: Mordue v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2015] EWCA Civ 1243; [2016] 1 WLR 2682; Dorothy Bohm & Others v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Others [2017] EWHC 3217 (Admin); Steer v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Catesby Estates Limited, Amber Valley Borough Council [2018] EWCA Civ 1697
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.