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Dismissed30 April 20266002774

Rocklands, Church Lane, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6UP

Planning appeal 6002774 at Rocklands, Church Lane, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6UP (Mid Sussex District Council) was dismissed on 30 April 2026 by Inspector Catcheside E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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.

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
Postcode
RH17 6UP

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DP6Policy DP12Policy DP15Policy DP21Policy DP26Policy DP34Policy DP35Policy ARD5
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11
Judgments
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

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.

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The decision letter

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.