Appeal Dismissed For New home Near Wivelsfield

Plans for a new four-bedroom home near Wivelsfield have been rejected at appeal.

The proposal, for land to the north east of Brook Lodge in Theobolds Road, had originally been refused by Lewes District Council planners in September last year.

Officers raised concerns about the location of the site, which sits on greenfield land, and the potential impact on the area’s rural character.

Applicants Mr D Doherty and Ms C Mullis had challenged that decision, arguing the district’s housing shortage should have been given more weight in favour of the scheme.

However, in a decision published on Monday (18 August), a planning inspector backed the council’s original refusal.

The inspector said the design of the property would “cause substantial harm to the character and appearance of the area” and criticised its “clearly residential” appearance, which was judged not to reflect a rural or barn-like style.

While acknowledging the benefits of delivering new housing at a time when Lewes has less than a 3.1 year housing land supply, the inspector concluded the harm to the countryside and unsustainable location outweighed those benefits.

As a result, the appeal was dismissed.

More details can be found under application reference LW/24/0468 on the Lewes District Council website.