Page 262 - All files for Planning Inspectorate

Wealden House, Lewes Road, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, RH19 3TB

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Motion is instructed by Ashgrove Homes to prepare this Appeal Statement in respect of a refused
planning application (ref. DM/19/1025) to redevelop Wealden House, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, to
form a residential development comprising 54 dwellings.

1.2 The site is located off the A22 Lewes Road in Ashurst Wood, to the south east of East Grinstead and
within the District of Mid Sussex. West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the highway authority.

1.3 The site presently accommodates an office building with a gross external floor area of 3,057 square
metres, together with 64 car parking spaces and an additional, informal, overflow parking area. The site
was formerly occupied by EDF Energy.
1.4 The proposed development comprises 54 one- and two-bedroom dwellings with 67 car parking spaces.
Communal parking will also be provided for 52 cycles, which exceeds the policy requirement of 0.5 per
unit by 25.

1.5 Access to the proposed development for all road users will be taken at the same position as the existing
access onto the A22 Lewes Road, which includes a right turn lane for vehicles entering the site from the
northwest. The access road will provide a shared surface environment within the site.
1.6 The site is allocated as site ASW 9 within the Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan, which identifies it as
Wealden House (EDF Site). The site is allocated for a high-density scheme with a minimum of 50
residential units and access maintained through the existing access point, subject to any potential
modifications to accommodate development traffic.
1.7 The Transport Assessment, prepared by Motion in March 2019 and submitted with planning application
DM/19/1025, demonstrates that:
► The site is accessible via regular bus services, which in turn provide connections to East Grinstead
and Three Bridges railway stations
► Car parking is provided with reference to the WSCC Car Parking Demand Calculator (PDC), whilst
cycle parking is also in line with WSCC guidance

► Servicing will be undertaken within the site and Mid Sussex refuse vehicles will be able to enter and
depart in forward gear

► The development is likely to result in a decrease of some 51 two-way vehicular trips in the weekday
morning peak hour and 42 two-way vehicular trips in the weekday evening peak hour. Across a
typical weekday, the proposed residential use is likely to deliver a reduction of 237 two-way vehicular
trips compared to the existing commercial use

► This reduction in vehicular trips ensures that the development would not impact on the nearby
Ashdown Forest SAC

► A Travel Plan Statement has been prepared for the site in accordance with WSCC guidance and will
encourage sustainable travel behaviour to and from the site.

1.8 In view of the above, the Transport Assessment concludes that the proposed development is acceptable
in relation to transport-related planning policy. Therefore, no demonstrable harm would arise, and it will
not cause any severe impacts. The Highway Authority, West Sussex County Council (WSCC), agreed
with those conclusions whilst the Council’s Planning Officer commented that “it is not considered that
the proposal would have a severe impact on vehicular movements on the A22 and there are no grounds
to resist the application based on this matter.”

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1.9 Nevertheless, Mid Sussex District Council refused the application by Decision Notice dated 20
September 2019. Three reasons were given, the third of which is as follows:

Appeal Statement: Parking – December 2019
Ashgrove Homes 2
1911051/wheast
Bates No 000261