Burnt House Wood, Lewes Road, Blackboys

1. 1.The works have detrimentally eroded the informal, verdant and rural character of the site and woodland setting and fail to conserve or enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the protected High Weald National Landscape. The works, comprising the clearance of vegetation and tree growth, widening and raising of the former woodland track, the laying of substantial quantities of MOT material and tarmac, installation of a French drain and excavation of the bank to form a passing/parking area, represent an intrusive and unsympathetic form of development The works are therefore contrary to Saved Policies GD2, EN6, EN12 and EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998, Spatial Planning Objectives SPO1 and SPO13 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013, Policies DP3, S3, S5, N2, N4 and N6 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2026 and Chapters 2, 3 and 5 of the Wealden Design Guide 2008.
2. 2.The works result in an unacceptable risk to highway safety and increased traffic hazards. The visibility splay to the west is substantially below the National Highways recommendations for this section of Lewes Road, the B2102, which is subject to the 60- mph national speed limit, and no speed-survey evidence has been submitted to justify a reduced standard. Furthermore, no vehicle-tracking information has been provided to demonstrate that the largest vehicle can safely enter the site, turn within it and rejoin the B2102 in forward gear. The works are therefore contrary to Saved Policy TR3 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998, Policies S3, S5 and TR6 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2026 and the National Highways ‘Design Manual for Roads and Bridges’.
3. 3.The Local Planning Authority is unable to conclude that the works have not caused, and would not continue to cause, unacceptable harm to the trees, ecology, biodiversity and woodland habitat on the site. No Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Ecological Assessment or other adequate evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the pdnRS works have not resulted in tree removal, damage or severance of roots, loss or deterioration of woodland habitat or a harmful ecological impact. The works are therefore contrary to Saved Policies EN12 and EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998, Policies WCS12 and WCS14 and Spatial Planning Objectives SPO1 and SPO13 of the Wealden District Core Strategy Local Plan 2013, Policies S3, S5, N2, N4 and N6 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2026 and Chapters 2, 3 and 5 of the Wealden Design Guide 2008.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

TN22 5JU

Parish

Heathfield & Waldron

Date validated

6 August 2026

Target decision date

1 October 2026

Case officer

Robin Hirschfeld