The appeal is allowed and outline planning permission is granted for the Proposed Demolition of Existing Building and Erection of 25 Apartments with Affordable Housing, Parking Provision, New Highway Access and Other Ancillary Works at Brook House, Cranbrook Road, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook TN18 5EE in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref. 17/03780/OUT, dated 10 November 2017, subject to the 22 conditions in the attached schedule

The proposed development described as residential development of up to 24 dwellings with associated works has been dismissed.

The main issues are the effect on the character and appearance of the area and the effect on biodiversity.

 The application Ref 17/01429/APP, dated 14 April 2017, was refused by notice dated28 March 2018

The proposed development of outline planning application for up to 70 units with all matters reserved has been dismissed.

The main issues is the effect of the provision of dwellings on the appeal site on the landscape character of the area.

The application Ref 17/01732/OUM, dated 25 September 2017, was refused by notice dated 8 February 2018.

The proposed development of outline planning application for residential development for up to 90 units with all matters reserved apart from the means of access has been dismissed.

The application Ref 17/01731/OUM, dated 25 September 2017, was refused by noticedated 8 February 2018

The application Ref 17/01731/OUM, dated 25 September 2017, was refused by notice dated 8 February 2018

The proposed development of 10 new dwellings and creation of new vehicular access and internal road has been dismissed.

At the outset of the hearing the Council confirmed that the amended drawing submitted by the appellant demonstrates that a safe and suitable access could be achieved subject to the imposition of planning conditions. The Council’s position flows from advice from the Local Highway Authority (LHA) and substantive technical evidence was not presented to counter this. Consequently, I am satisfied this matter has been addressed and therefore it has not been considered further.

During the hearing I sought confirmation regarding the findings of the ecological survey prepared by Geosphere Environmental Ltd (dated 8 December 2016) and submitted by the appellant. In view of the subsequent discussion I have addressed the effect on biodiversity as a main issue. Accordingly, the main issues in this appeal are:

• Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location with reference to development plan policies;

• Whether the proposed development would make adequate provision for affordable housing;

• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape;

• Whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of Kirton Manor, a Grade II listed building;

• The effect of the proposed development on biodiversity; and

• If there is a conflict with the development plan, whether there are material considerations that indicate a decision should be taken other than in accordance with the development plan.

The development proposed for the erection of up to 98 dwellings with public open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage system and vehicular access point from Colchester Road has been dismissed.

I consider the main issues to be:

•What effect the development would have on the landscape character and appearance of the area.

•What effect it would have on the significance of heritage assets.

•Whether adequate provision would be secured for affordable housing and for necessary infrastructure to support the development.

•What effect the development would have on biodiversity including whether any likely significant effect on the Black water Special Protection Area/RAMSAR site would require that an Appropriate Assessment be made of such impacts before determining the appeal.

•Whether there is a 5-year supply of housing land in Braintree District.

– Whether, having regard to the planning balance and to the provisions of paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework, if the most important development plan policies for determining the application are out-of-date, or if there is not a 5-year supply of housing land, should the proposal trigger a presumption in favour of this development of market and affordable housing or do any of the listed exceptions to that presumption apply here?

The development proposed of the outline application for 32 no dwellings together with a new access, infrastructure and landscaping has been dismissed.

The main reasons being;

i)the effect of the proposal on the character of the local landscape; and,

ii)whether the proposed development would be within an acceptable location having regard to the policies of the Local Plan.

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for residential developmentwith vehicle access from the A4281 at Former Thornton’s Quarry, adjacent to GraigHouse, Nant-y-croft, Rassau (grid reference 314997 , 211641) in accordance with theterms of the application, Ref C/2018/0205, dated 22 June 2018, and the planssubmitted with it, subject to the conditions set out in the annex to this decision

 The development proposed was originally described as: ‘Demolition of existing attached two storey house and rear garages. Erection of a two storey block of 12 one and two bedroom flats with rooms in the roof space, rear car parking, bin and cycle stores, and private amenity space. Modification of existing access off The Knoll and widening of a section of footpath to Hanworth Lane’ – this has been dismissed.

The main issues are the effect of the proposal on:

i)the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA); and

ii)the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with particularregard to the type of accommodation proposed

The development proposed is described as, outline application with some mattersreserved for construction of up to 24 dwellings (including affordable housing), villagegreen, children’s play area, parking area, and associated works including landscaping has been dismissed.

The main issues are:

• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape and scenic beauty of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the AONB);

• whether the proposal would constitute ‘major development’ in the AONB; and

• if constituting major development, do exceptional circumstances exist, and would the development be in the public interest