Two homes at Station Road, North Chailey

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for up to two homes, with only access decided at this stage and other matters reserved.

“LW/23/0596 Location: Land adjacent to Honeysuckle Cottage, Station Road (A272), North Chailey East Sussex BN8 4PJ”

“Outline application, with all matters other than access reserved, for the erection of up to 2 dwellings. (Amended application from 3 to 2 dwellings and new illustrative plan 22-146-PR01 Option A Rev B)”

Officer report

The site and its surroundings

The site is a small, flat piece of former grazing land beside the A272, between Newick and North Chailey, with farmland to the north.

“3 Site Description 3.1 The site is a small piece of agricultural land, previously used for grazing. The site was probably previously part of Honeysuckle Cottage. It sits on the north side of Station Road, (A272), on the road corridor between Newick to the east, (0.5 miles,15 min walk) and North Chailey to the west, (0.7 miles, 20 min walk). The site sits in the middle section of this corridor which contains sporadic housing on both sides of the road.”

“The site is Grade 3 Agricultural land. Policy DM19 seeks to protect Grade 3A. It is not clear from the DEFRA Agricultural Land Classification System is the site is…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal would provide two homes in a sustainable location while preserving countryside views and local character.

“1 Executive Summary 1.1 It is considered that the proposed development would:”

“- Represent an appropriately efficient use of land and housing delivery, outside of the settlement boundaries of North Chailey and Newick, but, in a sustainable location: - Not harm the distinctive local road and landscape character of the A272 corridor between these two settlements - Maintain views of the open countryside to the north of the A272/Station Road Overall, the application is supported and recommended for approval with planning conditions.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Parish councils objected over countryside protection, village separation and transport, while consultees raised no objection subject to conditions or made no comment.

“Officer Comment - The application site sits within a cluster of sporadic homes in the middle section of the A272 corridor between North Chailey and Newick, with larger countryside gaps east and west of the site, offering long views over farmland and countryside, particularly to the north of the A272.”

“Waste Management 6.7 Representation No objection. Waste lorries will collect from A272 as for other homes fronting onto A272. Tree Officer 6.8 Representation No objection subject to a condition Nature Space 6.9 Representation No objection subject to great crested newt condition…”

Officer report

Public speaking

An immediate neighbour spoke against the proposal.

Committee decision

The committee approved the outline application subject to the report conditions and delegated authority for a possible additional field-access condition.

“That outline planning application LW/23/0596 with all matters other than access reserved, for the erection of up to 2 dwellings. (Amended application from 3 to 2 dwellings and new illustrative plan 22-146-PR01 Option A Rev B) be approved, subject to the conditions set out in the report and supplementary report, and that authority be delegated to the Head of Development Management to impose a condition to secure access to the field to the north if there are no other access…”

Minutes