The Laurels, Chalvington Road, Chalvington BN27 3TB

1. 1.The proposed outbuilding - by reason of its inappropriate position within the plot outside of the recognised, established domestic curtilage for The Laurels, along with its excessive size, scale, and domestic appearance, represents an inappropriate form of development, and change of use of non-residential land. Divorced from the main dwelling, the spread of unwarranted urbanisation and domestication along the road frontage within this countryside location, would cause harm to the established street scene. The application is therefore considered to represent an inappropriate form of design that conflicts with Saved Policies EN27 and DC19 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998; Spatial Objectives SPO1, SPO2, and SPO13 of the Core Strategy Local Plan 2013; Chapters 2, 10 and 12 of the Wealden Design Guide 2008; and paragraphs 8, 11 and 139 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.The application relates to the proposed erection of a sizeable outbuilding for use ancillary to a Grade II listed building, and within its setting, where in this instance, the proposals are not supported by an adequate assessment of the significance of the designated heritage asset, and which fails to provide a suitably robust consideration as to the impact of the proposal as development within its setting. It is considered that harm would arise as a result of the inappropriate form of development within the setting of the listed building and where no clear and convincing justification has been given to show that any overriding public/heritage benefit would outweigh the harm identified. The proposal is therefore contrary to Section 66(1) of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990; Spatial Planning Objectives SPO2 and SPO13 and Policy WCS14 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013; Saved Policies EN8, EN27 and DC19 of the adopted Wealden Local Plan (1998); together with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework within Chapter 16, at paragraphs 202, 210, 213 and 215.
3. 3.The proposal is not supported by a sufficient degree of information in order to ascertain that the proposal would not adversely impact either great crested newts, a European pdnRS Protected Species, or suitable habitat indicated as being likely to be present within the locality. Given the absence of such information, an absence of harm cannot in this instance be ruled out. In this respect the proposals are therefore contrary to Spatial objective SPO13 and Policy WDC14 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013 in conjunction with paragraphs 8, 187, 192 and 193 of the National Planning Policy Framework. 4.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

BN27 3TB

Application type

Full

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Chalvington & Ripe

Date validated

16 February 2026

Consultation expiry

20 March 2026

Consultation start

27 February 2026

Consultation end

20 March 2026

Target decision date

13 April 2026

Committee meeting

13 April 2026

Agent address

Heron House Laughton Road Ringmer East Sussex BN8 5UT

Statutory period

56 days

Advertisement expiry

20 March 2026

Site notice start

27 February 2026

Documents

19