Land Adjacent to Broadlawns, Whitebread Lane, Beckley, TN31 6TY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area and whether it would conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald National Landscape
• the effect of the development on ecology and protected species
• the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to noise and disturbance

What decided it

The proposal's introduction of backland development that would erode the established linear settlement pattern and diminish the undeveloped wooded landscape setting of the High Weald National Landscape, contrary to Policies DP3, L2, and N4 of the Framework, substantially outweighs the benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision.

The substantial positive weight attached to the provision of an additional dwelling and self-build housing was overcome by the even more substantial weight attached to the harm to character and appearance and the failure to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the High Weald National Landscape, resulting in the adverse impacts substantially outweighing the benefits when assessed against the national decision-making policies in the Framework as a whole.