Decision details

Retention and profiling of existing materials to raise the level of a paddock for drainage improvements.Falmer Court Farm, East Street, Falmer, BN1 9PB - SDNP/15/00790/CW

15.1     The Committee, acting as agents for the South Downs National Park Authority, considered a report by the Head of Planning and Environment.  Officers confirmed that an additional representation from the applicant’s agent had been received and circulated since the publication of the agenda.

15.2     Peter Lenihan, a representative of Falmer Parish Council, spoke in support of the recommendation of refusal.

15.3     Mike Holland, the landowner, and Shane Tasker, his agent, spoke against the recommendation of refusal.

15.4     Members have considered the officer’s report and comments of the public speakers and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation as set out in paragraph 8 of the report.

15.5     RESOLVED (1) to refuse planning permission for the following reasons:

1.         It has not been demonstrated that the importation of waste materials is required to manage drainage at the site and that there are no suitable alternative methods. Therefore, there is no justifiable need for the importation of waste for reasons of drainage and the use of the waste for this purpose does not accord with the principles of the waste hierarchy, thereby conflicting with Policy WMP3b of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013.

2.         The importation of inert waste materials at the site to raise land levels for the purposes of drainage would not be of benefit to the land and would conflict with Policy WMP8b of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013.

3.         The importation of waste materials at the site does not accord with the requirements to protect the landscape character of the South Downs National Park, thereby conflicting with Policies WMP2 and WMP27(a) of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013, Part 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and Core Policy 10 of the Lewes District Submission Core Strategy 2013.

4.         The importation of waste materials at the site does not accord with the requirements to conserve and enhance the character and appearance of Falmer Conservation Area and the setting of the tithe barn Grade II* Listed Building, thereby conflicting with Policy WMP27(a) of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013, Saved Policies H2 and H5 of the Lewes District Local Plan 2003, Part 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and Core Policy 11 of the Lewes District Submission Core Strategy 2013; and

(2) to authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to take appropriate enforcement action to secure the removal of all deposited inert and non-inert waste materials in breach of planning control at this site.