Inspector dismisses plans for housing behind Moorings in Buxted

In a decision notice published on Tuesday, a planning inspector has dismissed a pair of linked appeals connected to plans to build housing on land to the rear of a property known as Moorings in High Street.

The appeals came after WDC refused two applications, both from developer Verizun Land and Development Ltd, seeking to build either seven or four houses on the land. 

In refusing the schemes - in December 2020 and July 2021 respectively - the council argued that both proposals would severely harm the character and appearance of the area.

Plans were refused by Wealden District Council

Verizun disagreed with this assessment and also pointed to the council’s lack of a five-year supply of housing land as a factor in support of development. 

Even so, the proposals were altered during the appeal process, with the developer reducing its ask to either six or three homes.

While the inspector noted the council’s housing pressures, they concluded that this benefit would be outweighed by the "unacceptable harm" to the character and appearance of the area.

This was because development of the site itself would have an "urbanising effect", the inspector said. 

Buxted is a small village near Uckfield Photo: Geograph/N Chadwick

As a result, both appeals were dismissed. 

For further information see applications WD/2020/0748/F and WD/2021/0641/F on the Wealden District Council website.