Ninefield housing development appeals dismissed as planning inspector endorses Wealden council decisions

A government planning inspector has endorsed Wealden District Council’s intention to refuse permission for 40 new homes in Ninfield.

The council said it would turn down outline planning permission for the development on land south of Catsfield Road, Hurst Wood Green, Ninfield.

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The application was submitted to the council in February 2020 and the authority intended to refuse outline planning permission for the 1.86 hectare site on the grounds it lies outside the development boundary for Ninfield, within open countryside.

Council planners also said the proposed development would be detrimental to the visual and rural setting of the village of Ninfield and character of Catsfield Road, and is contrary to planning policies.

Developers appealed and a decision announced last month by a government inspector concurred with the council’s views and said the proposal would constitute a cramped form of development outside of the established built form of the village, which would transform the rural character of the eastern approach to the village from Catsfield Road.

The inspector also said the development would be unsympathetic and harmful to its rural setting and cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area. The appeal was dismissed.

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There has been a number of other appeals recently dismissed by planning inspectors after permission was originally turned down by Wealden District Council.

A bid to build a development of eight detached six bedroom houses on land at the corner of Straight Half Mile and The Drive in Maresfield, was refused by the council in February last year and an appeal by the developers dismissed last month.

A planning inspector also dismissed an appeal after the council refused an application in December 2020 to convert Holy Rood Catholic Church, Castle Drive, Pevensey Bay, to two four bedroom houses and build another two four bedroom houses on the site.

An appeal against a refusal by the council in May 2021 to build nine new houses on land adjacent to the Recreation Ground, Blackboys, was also dismissed last month.

Also in February, a planning inspector refused an appeal to build two detached houses on land at Spindles, Howbourne Lane, Buxted, Uckfield, following Wealden council turned down planning permission in June 2021.

Wealden council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for planning Councillor Ann Newton said, “We are delighted the planning inspectors have agreed with our decisions to refuse these applications and dismissed these appeals.

“Our appeal record is strong. It does demonstrate that unacceptable development that does not accord with our polices and guidance will be refused. Those decisions will be defended at appeal.”

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