Inspector Turns Down Uckfield Home

Plans to build a new dwelling in the garden of an Uckfield home have been turned down at appeal.

In a decision notice published earlier this month, a planning inspector has dismissed proposals to build a detached two-bedroom dwelling on land to the west of an existing in London Road known as The Cedars.

While recommended for approval at the time, the scheme was refused planning permission by Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee North in May last year.

Councillors had raised concerns around the impact of the new building, saying it would be “unacceptably overbearing” and result in a loss of privacy to neighbouring properties.

This view was not shared by the planning inspector, who judged the scheme’s design to be acceptable.

In their decision notice, the inspector said:

“The proposed development would not have a harmful effect on the living conditions of neighbouring residents with particular reference to outlook and privacy.

“The proposed development would therefore accord with [planning policies], which indicates that developments should not create an unacceptable adverse impact on the privacy and amenities of adjoining developments.”

But the inspector did raise concerns around another element of the scheme — its potential impact on the Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA).

While this potential impact had not been a reason for refusal, the inspector concluded that the proposal would generate a small increase in population and in turn potentially increase recreational pressure on the Ashdown Forest SPA.

Both the council and the applicant had agreed that any impact from the development could be offset by financial contributions to Wealden’s Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS) and strategic sites of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS) programmes.

Such a contribution would need to be agreed through a planning obligation. No such obligation had been in place prior to the appeal process, so the inspector was unable to approve the plans.

The inspector said:

“The social and economic benefits of delivering additional housing in a location close to local services and facilities are significant considerations weighing in favour of the scheme, particularly given the shortfall in housing supply.

“However, the development would result in likely significant effects to the Ashdown Forest SPA which attracts substantial weight against the proposal, and Regulation 63(5) of the Habitats Regulations states that the competent authority may agree to a plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site.

“Therefore, I cannot allow the appeal.”

For further information see application reference WD/2024/0206/F on the Wealden District Council website.