Retrospective proposals to use an Isfield farmyard as a commercial premises have been turned down by Wealden planners.
On Thursday (October 17), Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee North refused an application seeking permission to use four agricultural buildings at New House Farm in Buckham Hill as a commercial storage and distribution building.
While the retrospective change of use was recommended for approval by officers, the proposals had seen strong opposition from nearby neighbours, who argued the ongoing use of the building would continue harming their living conditions.
Polly Canning, a planning consultant acting on behalf of some of these residents, said: “A B8 use is simply not acceptable in this location and to put it frankly it is a nightmare; the noise, dust, fumes and visual intrusion sources currently emanating from the site [are] way and above what is considered reasonable and the unlawful use should be ceased without delay.
“Officers explicitly note in the committee report that harm is being caused to residents’ amenity, so why hasn’t Environmental Health been consulted?
“They proceed to downplay this harm by suggesting that the noise and disturbance is similar to living on a farm. Really? Imagine yourself purchasing a property fully aware that you are going to be living next to a farm, you don’t however expect to be living next to an unauthorised B8 commercial storage and distribution centre; the two uses are inherently different.”
For their part, officers said a farming use would not necessarily result in reduced noise, odour or the removal of HGVs from the site. Taking this into account, officers said the balance between the harm and the benefits of the scheme (bringing underused buildings into commercial use) fell in favour of approval.
Stacey Robins, the council’s head of planning, said this had been an ‘on balance’ decision, with the council coming “marginally” down in favour of the scheme.
Councillors reached a different conclusion.
Proposing refusal, Cllr Andrew Wilson said: “Mr Robins said it was a thinly balanced decision and they came down on the side of the approval of the B8 use. I am going to respectfully disagree with that and I am going to propose that we don’t approve this application for a change of use.
“The officer report says that the proposal will not create a significant number of jobs … I am therefore led to the conclusion that it will not be beneficial to the local economy to the extent it outweighs the harm it will cause to the residents in the vicinity.
“I appreciate there has been comment made about vehicle movements and that being similar to a farm, but if residents chose to live next to a farm that is a very different environment.”
For further information see application reference WD/2024/0742/FR on the Wealden District Council website.
