It looks like Crowborough Town Council and dozens of local residents will lose their battle against plans to build new houses in the back garden of a Crowborough house – even though they may have thought they had won.
Earlier this week Govt planning inspectors threw out the controversial plans to build six new homes in a back garden of Kingsmead in Myrtle Road described as a “haven” for a number of animals – but there’s a twist in the story.
Crowborough News has checked planning listings and can reveal that a separate but very similar plan for the same site, by the same developer, for five instead of six houses is still under consideration – and the Wealden District Council planning officer is recommending it be conditionally approved.
More than 80 letters had objected to the original proposals to build the six new homes on a site behind Kingsmead, and Crowborough Town Council, a consultee on the plans, had also objected. For the second application 91 objections had been received, and the town council has stood by its opposition to the proposals.
Among the concerns raised by the objectors were overdevelopment of the site, increased traffic, loss of wildlife habitat, harm to protected species, and overlooking.
The new plan is for five houses behind Kingsmead – two 3-bedroomed, three 4-bedroomed – with access to this new development from an extension to Valley Road.
The town council said there was significant wildlife activity on the site, including various different species, including protected mammals. It added that while the plans had been reduced in size from six new houses to five, it still believed it to be “overdevelopment of the site”.
But in the latest officer’s report recommending conditional approval the WDC planning officer said there had been no objections to the revised plans raised by the WDC Biodiversity officer, the WDC tree officer, the WDC Housing officer, or East Sussex highways.
Addressing concerns raised, the officer said as the site was a private back garden it was “inaccurate to refer to it as woodland for the purposes of planning policy.” And as the trees on site had no preservation orders, the owner was free to cut them down. The officer said “it cannot be considered a green open space”.
The WDC officer also pointed to the shortfall of land for housing, the need for new homes, and the fact that the site is within Crowborough’s defined development boundary. And it was the officer’s conclusion that “overall the amenity of Kingsmead would not be adversely affected.”
When it blocked the original plan last year – resulting in the planning appeal – WDC said the proposed development – because of its scale and layout – would result in the destruction of protected species and their habitats with no suitable avoidance or mitigation secured.
It would also result in significant adverse impacts on the residential amenities of the adjacent occupiers through loss outlook, privacy and sunlight, WDC said.
But now it appears to be happy with the plans subject to a section 106 agreement with the developer, Asprey Homes, an updated survey for badgers, a full “arboricultural method statement” and steps to ensure badger habitat connectivity.
In recommending the conditional approval, the officer says: “In this case, the proposal has been assessed and no concerns have been raised in terms of sustainability, highway safety, arboriculture, drainage or visual amenity.
“Previously identified impacts on protected species have been resolved by a reduction in quantum and suitable conditions can secure mitigation for on-site protections during the construction phase and permeability during occupation. Ultimately, the LPA is confident Natural England would be likely to issue a licence for the development to proceed in an appropriate manner.
“When considered in the round, the identified drawbacks of the proposal are limited and would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, which ultimately combine to further the planning system’s goal of achieving sustainable development. The substantial objections from residents are noted but all issues raised can be suitably addressed through the recommended conditions. It is also noted there are no objections from the technical consultees. Accordingly, the recommendation is to grant conditional planning permission.”