Page 66 - All files for Planning Inspectorate update

Ashbourne Park Owners’ Association

3 Ashbourne House. Lewes Road. Ashurst Wood. RH19 3TB

29 April 2019

Dear Mr King,

Re: DM/19/1025 – EDF Development

Site capacity and design

At the meeting of the Ashurst Wood Village Planning Committee on 23 April last there was some
discussion about the exact area of the EDF site, which was identified by the committee as being 1.2
hectares gross (as opposed to the 1.473 Hectares claimed in the developer’s proposals) of which
only 0.8 hectares is available to be built on (the rest being untouchable ancient woodland).

Since that meeting we have established that the area of our own Ashbourne Park estate is 0.358
hectares (source: Parish Online)

For different reasons these numbers are important. As you will be aware we have questioned on a
number of occasions how the number of 50+ dwellings for the EDF site was arrived at, without being
given any satisfactory answer other than “that was what was included in the Neighbourhood Plan”.
How that number came to be included in the Plan has never been explained.

The Neighbourhood Plan contains the following policies (our underlining for emphasis):-

ASW 1, whereby:-

A proposal for development will only be permitted …….where…..

(d) It would maintain the character and appearance of the countryside and its distinction
from the Built Up Area, and………………

(e) It demonstrates good quality design, which respects the existing character and
appearance of the surrounding area, and meets the criteria set out in Policy 14 where
appropriate

ASW 9, whereby
Proposals for residential development on land at Wealden House, Lewes Road (EDF site) will
be supported subject to the following criteria: