Concerns about development in the High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) in villages near Rye have played an important role in planning decisions made at the end of October.
The AONB, which covers much of the land to the north and west of Rye, is now called a National Landscape. The High Weald is the fourth largest in England and Wales.
Beckley
Revised plans for six houses in Beckley have been submitted – the development is on land associated with Goosely Farm Oast, to the south of Main Street. The application follows on from a previous attempt by the same applicant, Landstrom Group Ltd to secure outline planning permission to build on the site.
The earlier application, which sought permission to build four houses, was refused planning permission in January after council officers judged it would result in “unacceptable harm” to the character of the village and “degrade” the High Weald AONB.
Since then, the site has been identified as a “potential development site” within the draft Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) — a document which would make up part of the evidence base for the council’s emerging local plan.
In describing the site, identified as BEC0021, the HELAA reads: “While Beckley is characterised by undeveloped gaps between areas of built form, this particular site is relatively enclosed in the landscape without the same long views northwards as other fields. Therefore, limited development across part of the site could potentially be accommodated without harming the rural character or setting of the village or the landscape of the High Weald AONB.”
Peasmarsh
A planning inspector has dismissed proposals for a new build in Peasmarsh on land to the rear of a property known as Field View in School Lane. The scheme had previously been refused by Rother District Council in January, mainly due to concerns about its impact on the High Weald National Landscape.
In a report at the time a council planning spokesman said: “Although the proposal would provide a small contribution to meeting the housing need, this would not outweigh the significant harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the High Weald National Landscape. The development of the site would not appear integrated into the settlement edge, instead appearing as a significant urban intrusion into the rural landscape.”
This view was strongly disputed by the applicant who argued the site would “appear as a natural addition to the established development within Peasmarsh” and therefore “conserve and enhance” the National Landscape.
The planning inspector has now agreed with the council’s view that the development would harm the National Landscape. “I conclude that the site is not suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, land use, and the amount of development proposed.”
Guestling
Proposals for 26 new homes have been approved in spite of objections from Guestling Parish Council. Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to proposals from Jerboa Homes on land to the west of Rock Lane, on the outskirts of the town.
The proposals followed on from a previous application from the same developer (submitted in 2020) which was refused primarily due to concerns around its potential impact on the AONB. The committee heard how the new scheme would still result in some “low level harm” to the AONB, but these concerns would not be outweighed by benefits of additional housing.
Cllr Judy Rogers, who seconded the motion to approve the scheme, said: “It is good to see that there are only 26 dwellings going up on that site and they are only going to be two-storey, so there will be plenty of room; it won’t be overcrowded. We desperately need homes for people and it is good to see that some of the properties on there will be affordable, and they will be targeting people on our housing list.”
The council had received 45 letters of objection in connection with the proposals.
Guestling Parish Council had also submitted an objection, raising concerns around drainage and highways traffic.
You can read more about the High Weald Natural Landscape here.
Image Credits: N Chadwick/Geograph CC , Rother District Council , Hastings Borough Council .