Whitesmith Barn, Whitesmith Lane, Whitesmith, BN8 6HA

1. 1.The proposed development is outside of any defined development boundary and is in the countryside for planning purposes. There is no local development plan policy that establishes a principle for this residential proposal. Whilst the Council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, such that policies on restraining residential development in the countryside would be considered out-of-date, the development does not benefit from any of the Development Plan's rural exception policies, and it represents a new dwelling in the countryside in an unsustainable location. The weight to be afforded to the delivery of a single dwelling in terms of housing supply and support to the existing rural services in the area, are outweighed by the significant impacts in terms of sustainability from the dwelling, where residents will be almost wholly reliant on private vehicle trips to access facilities and services on a day to day basis. Therefore, it is considered that the identified harm outweighs the benefits of allowing the scheme given that the proposal would represent unsustainable housing development in the countryside. As a result, the proposed development would be contrary to Saved Policies GD2, DC17 and EN1 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998; Spatial Planning Objectives SPO7, SPO8 and SPO13, and Policy WCS14 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013; Section 7 of the Wealden Design Guide 2008; and paragraph 11 of the NPPF.
2. 2.The proposed development would result in harm to the amenities of current and future occupiers of Whitesmith Barn through substantial overlooking of the rear amenity space at Whitesmith Barn from windows on the proposed dwelling. It is likely that this space would be used by current or future occupiers as their most private garden area. As such, the harm identified is considered to be significant and unacceptable. As a result, the proposed development would be contrary to Saved Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.
3. 3.The proposed development would result in less than substantial harm to significance of the grade II listed Burchetts Cottage through inappropriate development within its setting which contributes to its significance. This harm would result from the creation of a separate curtilage within the open and historic farmstead, which is likely to be subject to pressure for pdnRS.docx future enclosure should a separate curtilage be permitted, leading to a loss of the sense of openness in the setting of the listed building that contributes to its significance. The limited public benefits of the scheme would not outweigh the harm identified. In addition, the applicant has failed to adequately describe the significance of the listed building including any contribution made by its setting. As a result, the proposed development would be contrary to Spatial Planning Objective SPO2 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013 and paragraphs 207 and 215 of the NPPF. 4.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

BN8 6HA

Application type

Full - Retrospective

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Chiddingly

Date validated

17 March 2026

Consultation expiry

25 April 2026

Consultation start

25 March 2026

Consultation end

25 April 2026

Target decision date

12 May 2026

Agent address

Christine Dadswell 1 London Road Tunbridge Wells TN11DH

Statutory period

56 days

Advertisement expiry

25 April 2026

Site notice start

25 March 2026

UPRN

10033401784

Documents

9