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Dismissed12 August 20266007214

The Orchard, Telham Lane, Battle, TN33 0SS

Planning appeal 6007214 at The Orchard, Telham Lane, Battle, TN33 0SS (Rother District Council) was dismissed on 12 August 2026 by Inspector G Sylvester, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to its location within the High Weald National Landscape.

the conversion of buildings to create a residential dwelling and annexe, together with associated car parking, garden and landscaping

Authority
Rother District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
G Sylvester
Postcode
TN33 0SS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to its location within the High Weald National Landscape
  • Whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development with particular regard to the spatial strategy and whether occupants would have adequate access to services and facilities

What decided it

The harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald National Landscape, which carries weight of a high order and outweighs the modest benefits of housing delivery and economic contribution.

The modest socio-economic and environmental benefits of the small-scale proposal, including housing supply contribution and biodiversity enhancement, were substantially outweighed by the high-order harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald National Landscape and the conflict with the spatial strategy, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits and the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy OSS4Policy EN1Policy EN3Policy DEN1Policy DEN2Policy DEN7Policy OSS1Policy OSS2Policy DIM2Policy RA3Policy SRM1Policy TR3Policy OSS3
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 14Paragraph 84

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 Rother District Council

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

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  5. Allowed21 September 20266009677
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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.