3 Ridgewood Gardens, Hastings, TN34 2LZ

1. 1.The proposed dwelling, by reason of its siting, design, and orientation, represents a form of development that fails to respond positively to its context and appears at odds with the surrounding properties. The proposal would fail to integrate with the established pattern of development and would have a detrimental impact on the visual character of the streetscene. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy DM1 of the Hastings Local Plan – Development Management Plan (2015).
2. 2.The proposal does not provide an adequate standard of residential amenity for future occupiers. The proposed bedroom does not meet the minimum internal floorspace requirements for a single bedroom as noted within the Technical Housing Standards - Nationally Described Space Standard (2015). The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy DM3 of the Hastings Local Plan – Development Management Plan (2015).
3. 3.The proposed refuse storage arrangements fail to provide satisfactory waste and recycling facilities having regard to local waste collection requirements and the practical operation of refuse collection. The submitted plans indicate that the bin store would be located approximately 52 metres from the refuse collection point, exceeding recommended maximum distances for residents and collection operatives. As a result, the development would give rise to impractical waste collection with excessive walking distances to and from Grange Road and the application site . As a result, the development would give rise to impractical waste collection arrangements and the likely presentation of bins within the public highway, resulting in visual clutter and harm to the character and appearance of the streetscene. The proposed layout is therefore contrary to Policy DM3 of the Hastings Local Plan – Development Management Plan (2015) which seeks to ensure development provides appropriate refuse storage arrangements without harm to visual amenity and paragraph 135 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which requires developments to function well.
4. 4.The proposal would permanently prevent the reinstatement of trees within designated woodland Tree Preservation Order (TPO No. 113, W3), following previous degradation. The loss of this woodland area would significantly diminish the site's contribution to local visual amenity and biodiversity of the wider Ridgewood Gardens development. The proposal would result in a permanent and unacceptable encroachment into this protected area. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy DM1(a) of the Hastings Local Plan – Development Management Plan (2015) and Policy EN3 of the Hastings Planning Strategy (2014).
5. 5.The proposal would intensify use of an existing shared access road which, at approximately 4 metres in width, fails to meet the minimum 5.5-metre width required by the Minor Application Guidance (2024) for a shared vehicular and pedestrian access serving two dwellings. In the absence of widening works or a separate pedestrian footway, the constrained access would result in conflict between vehicles and pedestrians and insufficient capacity for safe two-way movement, to the detriment of highway safety. Accordingly, the proposal is contrary to the Minor Application Guidance (2024) and Policy DM4 of the Hastings Local Plan – Development Management Plan (2015).
6. 6.The proposal fails to demonstrate that surface water arising from the development can be adequately managed. The proposal therefore fails to ensure safe surface water management and is contrary to policy SC7 of the Hastings Local Plan – Planning Strategy 2014.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

TN34 2LZ

Application type

Full Planning Permission

Scale / size

Small

Date validated

2 March 2026

Consultation start

20 February 2026

Last date for comments

3 April 2026

Target decision date

3 April 2026

Decision issued

22 April 2026

Applicant

Private applicant

Agent

CLM Planning Limited

Agent address

14 Magpie Close, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN39 4EU

Case officer

Zoe Taylor

Statutory period

56 days

Comments

0

Documents

30

Constraints

7