Page 269 - All files for Planning Inspectorate

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

4.0 Summary and Conclusion

4.1 This Appeal Statement relates to a refused planning application (ref. DM/19/1025) to redevelop the
Wealden House (former EDF) office site for residential purposes. The site is allocated in the Ashurst
Wood Neighbourhood Plan for a minimum of 50 residential units and the proposed scheme comprises 54
one- and two-bedroom dwellings.
4.2 The existing access onto the A22 will be re-used and the number of parking spaces on site will increase
marginally from 64 to 67. Parking will also be provided for 52 cycles.
4.3 The Transport Assessment submitted with the application concludes that the scheme complies with
national/local policy and no demonstrable harm would arise. WSCC concurred in its capacity as the Local
Highway Authority, stating that “there are no grounds to resist the application…”

4.4 The appeal scheme fully accords with national planning policy objectives to reduce reliance on the private
car.

4.5 Furthermore, the proposed development satisfies the Highway Authority’s Parking Demand Calculator,
which accounts for scheme-specific attributes such as tenure, the number of habitable rooms, the
number/proportion of allocated spaces and local car ownership data. For that reason, it is also in
accordance with Policy DP21 of the Mid Sussex District Plan 2018.

4.6 Conversely, the provision of additional parking would provide residents with a perverse incentive to use
the car more frequently than they otherwise might, which runs contrary to another objective of Policy
DP21; to reduce traffic congestion.
4.7 Additional parking would also undermine the Ashurst Wood Neighbourhood Plan by harming the character
and attractiveness of the village, leading to increased pressure for car parking both on street and within
designated parking areas.
4.8 Opportunities to park on-street within a reasonable walking distance of the proposed dwellings are
limited and any parking on the A22 would soon be prevented by the Highway Authority. The road safety
objectives of Policy ASW 21 (a) are therefore unlikely to be compromised.

Conclusion

4.9 The Transport Assessment finds that the scheme would result in no harm in relation to highway matters
and the Highway Authority agrees. The foregoing analysis supports those views, hence the Council’s
third reason for refusal is without foundation. Therefore, it is respectfully suggested that the Appeal
should succeed in relation to the third ground for refusal in that the proposed level of car parking is
plainly sufficient to serve the needs of the development.

Appeal Statement: Parking – December 2019
Ashgrove Homes 9
1911051/wheast
Bates No 000268