Page 12 - John Belsey

Paragraph 3
Planning Policies

2 PLANNING POLICIES
Conflicting Pressures
1. The main thrust of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to devolve power
to parishes and villages, but in reality districts, counties and central government appear
reluctant to accept any reduction in their traditional authority. This results in friction and
an excess of plans, policies, guidelines and formulaic templates many of which conflict.
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2. To non-planning experts (such as me) it seems that for every policy in one direction there
is one of equal standing in opposition and that applications can be approved or rejected
by cherry picking and on a whim. The allocation of parking spaces is an example of this;

Folio 30 paragraph 5.4 of the Transport Statement relies on the MSDC Local Plan of
2004 (and Policy T4 therein) in under-providing for parking spaces on the WH:EDF
site (92) and ignores the applicable Neighbourhood Policy- ASW21 which specifies 144
spaces. The MSDC local plan was in default and had no standing. However, AWVC
was still required to observe it.

3. For the current application there are two important and accepted principles. The first is
that Ashurst Wood is a small rural village in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
protected by an array of EU environmental and design standards. The second is that
developments must be sustainable retain the distinctiveness and characteristics of the
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village by preserving its historic and environmental features.
4. In addition, the Wealden House sites are further protected by two specific local policies
(AWNP 9 [relating to the WH:EDF site] and AWNP 10 [relating to the WH:LIC site]).
These are summarised and compared on Attachment 10 and include:
• Schemes must reflect and respect the predominant character of the area with particular
regard to the unit type, scale and massing;

• --- have a layout which reflects and respects the spacious character of the locality;
• --- provide a mix of dwelling types;

• ---- demonstrate that the development can be achieved without harmful impact on the
amenity of residents of Ashbourne House and Carlton House;
• Show that the residential development is sensitively incorporated into the historic
character of buildings on the site.

All of the above are violated in the current application.

3 OBJECTIVELY ASSESSED NEED

Establishing a Need
1. Under the NPPF and planning policies, applicants are required to demonstrate that a
proposed development responds to a local and legitimate need; that dwellings are built in
the right place, of the right type and size, and are supported by a commensurate infra-
structure.

2. The integrated development would provide 120 dwellings whereas the legitimate local
demand is minimal. A national property expert described the design of the 71 flats as
“horrible and unsellable” and predicted that most would be transferred to housing
associations for rental by transient, out-of-area tenants or sold under the discredited “help
to buy” scheme (Attachment 20).

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