Councillors to reconsider East Sussex self-build home

Next Wednesday (September 9), Wealden District Council’s Minors Planning Committee is due reconsider proposals to erect a four-bedroom self-build house and garage on land to the south of Station Road.

The committee had considered the scheme, from applicant listed as Mr Charles, on August 13, where councillors resolved to refuse planning permission, despite an officers’ recommendation to approve.

Part of the councillors’ decision had been based on the scheme’s location, which sits outside of any development boundary. They argued this would mean the scheme would result in “unjustified development in the countryside”.

However, the government has issued a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which officers say needs to be considered by the committee.

This updated document expands upon previous policies around the national “presumption in favour of sustainable development”, including new rules around applications for building outside settlements.

Part of the new NPPF sets out how certain types of such developments “should be approved, unless the benefits of doing so would be substantially outweighed by any adverse effects”.

Officers argue the proposal would meet the criteria of at least one of the development types set out in these new rules.

Specifically, they say it would be a “limited infilling within a group of houses” and/or a residential development, which is both within “reasonable walking distance of a well-connected station” and is of a scale which can be accommodated by existing infrastructure (among other things).

While location had been part of the committee’s decision to refuse, councillors also had concerns around the design of the proposed building.

They said it be contrary to the guidance within the Wadhurst Design Code and therefore represent “a harmful impact upon the intrinsic rural character of the High Weald National Landscape”.

This view is not shared by council planning officers.

In a report to the committee, a council planning spokesman said: “While within the [national landscape], the design is considered to be sympathetic to the area it is sited in, and takes cues from surrounding development in terms of materials used, and design ethos, with pitched roofs and chimneys incorporated into the final design.

“It is considered the dwelling would blend into the High Weald NL landscape and would not be dominant in its surroundings.”

Officers go on to argue the scheme should be approved, saying there would be no adverse impacts substantially outweighed the benefits of development.

For further information on the proposals see application reference WD/2025/1582/F on the Wealden District Council website.