Controversial proposals for a “partially subterranean” home near Crowborough which attracted more than a hundred letters of objection, have been turned down by planners.
Wealden District Council has refused planning permission to build a partly underground two to three-bedroom home on land formerly used as a (non-public) garden of The Boars Head Inn.
The scheme had attracted 133 letters of objection and East Sussex Highways had opposed it.
The council rejected the plan because of its “unsustainable” location, its impact on the High Weald National Landscape, the impact on the Grade II listed pub, and a lack of evidence around highway safety.
Council planning officers also said the proposal would have been likely to result in harm to the Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area, but said this could have been mitigated had the other elements of the scheme been considered acceptable.
In submitting the plans, the applicant insisted the proposed dwelling would not cause harm to the listed pub or the wider high weald landscape. He said it would enhance its immediate setting, reduce light pollution, support bio-diversity and would not affect the listed building. The site was hidden from view, he continued, served no benefit to the community of Boars Head, nor did it add any value to the immediate landscape.
In its objection, East Sussex Highways said the application had failed to provide adequate information about the site’s access and without evidence of these features it was unable to determine whether the scheme would be safe.