Plans for a small-scale housing development in Cross-in-Hand have been turned down at appeal.
In a decision notice published earlier this month, a planning inspector has dismissed proposals to build three houses on land to the south east of Quarry Wood in Fir Grove Road.
The scheme was refused planning permission by Wealden District Council in May last year, with officers raising concerns about the development causing ‘significant harm’ to the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In a report at the time, a council planning spokesman said: “A detailed assessment of the impacts to the AONB are set out below … but in summary they relate to a significant adverse impact to the AONB in relation to the impact to the historic settlement pattern, loss of part of the historic field pattern and impact to the appreciation of the historic route way of Firgrove Road. There is a significant adverse impact to the AONB.”
The spokesman added: “It is plainly clear that the harm from the development outweighs the benefits of the development, in fact even were it necessary to apply the presumption in favour … it is clear that the harm significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits [of] the proposal.”
In coming to this conclusion, the council also argued that the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ — a mechanism in national planning rules, which is triggered by a failure to meet housing targets — did not apply due to the site’s location within the AONB.
This view was not shared by the appellant, who argued the presumption should apply. The appellant also said the scheme should be approved, arguing that the council had overstated the harm to the AONB.
But the planning inspector came to the same conclusion as planning officers, deeming the harms to outweigh the benefits of the scheme. As a result, the appeal was dismissed.
For further information see application reference WD/2023/0579/O on the Wealden District Council website.
