Development Site At Former Tower Car Sales, Tower Close, East Grinstead, RH19 3BY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the development provides adequate living conditions for existing and future occupants, with particular regard to outlook, privacy, and floorspace
• whether the development makes appropriate provision for cycle parking and refuse storage
• the effect of the development on the Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (the SPA)
• whether the proposal includes adequate provision towards local community infrastructure

What decided it

The absence of privacy within the flat is so pronounced as to comprise a substantial adverse impact in terms of living conditions for occupiers, and combined with the failure to secure Habitats Regulations mitigation, the modest housing benefit is substantially outweighed by adverse effects when assessed against Framework policies.

The modest benefits of the proposed development, even in the context of the housing land shortfall, would be substantially outweighed by the adverse effects when assessed against the national decision-making policies in the Framework.