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Allowed7 August 20266006398

Bewl Water, Boat House Bistro, Bewlbridge Lane, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH

Planning appeal 6006398 at Bewl Water, Boat House Bistro, Bewlbridge Lane, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH (Wealden District Council) was allowed on 7 August 2026 by Inspector L Gardner, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposal on the natural beauty and character of the High Weald National Landscape, with particular regard to the dark skies of the area.

extensions and alterations to the Boat House Bistro, replacement of the adjacent fishing facility building and change of use to form 7 x 1 bed and 4 x 2 bed tourist units, creation of a cafe with terrace, with water sport facilities retained

Authority
Wealden District Council
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
leisure-sport
Inspector
L Gardner
Postcode
TN3 8JH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposal on the natural beauty and character of the High Weald National Landscape, with particular regard to the dark skies of the area

What decided it

The Lighting Impact Assessment, supported by smart glazing technology and dark-sky compliant external lighting secured by condition, demonstrates that the proposal would minimise light pollution to negligible levels and thus conserve the natural beauty and dark skies of the High Weald National Landscape.

The economic and social benefits of the proposal (11 additional tourist units, enhanced local rural tourism, refurbished water sport facilities, café use, and increased appreciation of the HWNL) would outweigh any harm, although the Inspector found no harm to the HWNL or other material considerations.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy WCS14 of the Wealden Core Strategy Local Plan (2013)Policy GD2 of the Wealden Local Plan (1998)Policy EN1 of the Wealden Local Plan (1998)Policy EN6 of the Wealden Local Plan (1998)Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan (1998)Policy EN29 of the Wealden Local Plan (1998)Policy WAD16 of the Wadhurst Neighbourhood Plan (2024)
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 15Paragraph 55Paragraph 85Paragraph 104Paragraph 189Paragraph 190Paragraph 198
Judgments
R (JH and FW Green Ltd) v South Downs National Parks Authority [2018] EWCA 604 (Admin); R (Monkill Ltd) v SSHCLG & Waverley BC [2021] EWCA Civ 74; Mixnam's Properties Ltd v Chertsey Urban DC [1964] 1 Q.B. 214; British Railways Board v SSE [1994] JPL 32; R V Cornwall CC ex p Hardy [2001] Env L.R. 25; R (on the application of Kides) v South Cambridgeshire District Council [2002] EWCA Civ 1370; R (on the application of Holland v SSCLG [2009] EWHC 2161 (Admin); Poundstretcher Ltd v SSE [1988] 3 PLR 69; Wadhurst Parish Council v Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government [2025] EWHC 1735 (Admin); Tesco Stores Ltd v Dundee City Council [2012] UKSC 13

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Wealden District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Allowed14 April 20253346077
    The Stables, Coombe Farm, Coombe Lane, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6NU
  2. Allowed17 March 20253353612
    Cherry Cottage & Betula Barn, Ripe Lane, Ripe, East Sussex, BN8 6AR
  3. Allowed13 January 20253343258
    Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH
  4. Dismissed5 September 20243336886
    Boat House Bistro, Bewl Water, Bewlbridge Lane, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH
  5. Dismissed28 August 20243337769
    Lynne's Organic Farm, Limekiln Forest Road, Eridge, Eridge, East Sussex, TN39LQ

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.