®Planning appeal decision
Bewl Water, Boat House Bistro, Bewlbridge Lane, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, TN3 8JH
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
- 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.
Framework references: 11, 15, 55, 85, 104, 189, 190, 198
Plan policies cited: 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)
Judgments cited: 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
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.