Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

28.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. 

28.2     Mr Hugh Willing, the applicant, spoke against the report’s recommendations. 

28.3     Members have considered the officer’s presentation and report, together with the comments of the public speaker, and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

28.4     The Committee RESOLVED to refuse planning permission for the following reasons:

1.         The site is within the countryside and the development conflicts with Policies RA2 (viii) and RA3 (v) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy 2014 which seeks to conserve, inter alia, the intrinsic value and the natural and ecological resources of the countryside and provide for appropriate development.

2.         The site is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its use for the disposal of waste is contrary to conserving and enhancing the landscape quality and character of the area, thereby conflicting with Policy WMP27 (a) of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Local Plan 2013, Policy EN1 (i) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy 2014, paragraph 172 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 and the overall objectives of the High Weald AONB Management Plan 2019.

3.         The site is within a wooded area adjacent to an area of designated ancient woodland and the deposited waste materials are on a steep slope encroaching into a long established pond. These habitats are important for wildlife. As such, the use of land for the disposal of waste conflicts with Policy WMP27 (b) of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013, Policies EN1 (viii) and EN5 (viii) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy 2014, paragraphs 175 and 178 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 and the overall objectives of the High Weald AONB Management Plan 2019.  

4.         The site adjoins a public right of way and historic routeway and the development results in an adverse visual effect to the amenity of users of the path due to the damage caused to the woodland, thereby conflicting with Policy OSS4 (iii) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy 2014, Policy WMP25 (a) and (d) of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013 and Objectives OQ3 and OQ4 of the High Weald AONB Management Plan 2019.

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