Self-build four-bedroom house at Land Off Station Road (Opposite Marling House), Wadhurst

“Application WD/2025/1582/F Report to: Minors Planning Committee Date: 9 September 2026 Site address: LAND OFF STATION ROAD (OPPOSITE MARLING HOUSE), WADHURST, TN5 6RT Proposal: PROPOSED SELF BUILD 4 BED DETACHED HOUSE, DOUBLE GARAGE WITH ANNEXE SPACE ABOVE, LANDSCAPING AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.”

“Executive Summary The site constitutes a field on the southern side of Station Road. While there is evidence of an access onto the land, with a five bar gate in situ, the site access on the roadside is currently overgrown. The site is located on the outskirts of the Wadhurst Development Boundary, and within the High Weald National Landscape.”

“Site and Surroundings The site constitutes a field on the southern side of Station Road. While there is evidence of an access onto the land, with a five bar gate in situ, the site access on the roadside is currently overgrown. Site Constraints The application site is subject to the following constraints: • Located outside the defined development boundary for Wadhurst • Within the High Weald Area National Landscape; • Within the Amber impact risk zone for great crested newts.”

“Relevant Planning History There is no relevant planning history on the site pertinent to the determination of this application.”

“Further response received 11 March 2026: No objection. Further clarification required on tree removal, conditions otherwise recommended. WDC Pollution Control Consultation response received 29 September 2025 - No comments to make. WDC Conservation & Design (verbal comments) - No settings issues expected in relation to heritage assets. Representations 5 Notifications of objection to the application raise the following issues:”

“Access does not meet highway safety or visibility requirements • Access has not been used for years • Where would delivery vehicles, visitors and Council refuse park / access the site? • Speed limit often exceeded by drivers • Would still be over-reliant on use of private car to access services • Significant groundworks required • Design not acceptable when considering High Weald and Wadhust PC plans • Too much glazing proposed • Design out of character with locality •…”

“Before application WD/2025/1582/F was considered, the Head of Planning and Environmental Services advised the Committee that correspondence had been received from Counsel acting on behalf of Wadhurst Parish Council late on the evening before the meeting.”

“The Head of Planning and Environmental Services, Stacey Robins, advised that internal legal advice had been taken. The advice was that the correspondence raised issues relating to the recent publication of the revised NPPF, the updated officer assessment and the limited time available before the meeting.”

“The Chair agreed that the item should be deferred, noting that there were a number of moving parts and that further time would assist.”

“The item was therefore deferred and was not considered on its planning merits.”