Committee members said that the scale of the proposal was too big for the site and that its impact on the landscape would be ‘inappropriate’.

CPRE Sussex trustees visited the site in September 2012 and formed the opinion that the proposed development would have a significant adverse impact on the tranquillity of the area, a former AONB and now National Park, the highest level of national protections for landscape and scenic beauty.

Although not a statutory consultee, CPRE Sussex commissioned a 6 page report on the proposed scheme which stated that the plans represented a significant urbanisation of the site, referring to it as ‘an area of landscape characterised by a sense of remoteness’. It drew attention to the traffic impacts of the proposed development, which it described as significant, adverse and unacceptable, given the rural character of the road network around the site and its location within the National Park. vAnne Reynolds, CPRE Trustee, said:

“A major development in a National Park can be justified only in exceptional circumstances and the site selection criteria used were of little or no use in justifying the suitability of this particular site. Even if the applicant were to appeal this refusal, CPRE Sussex would defend the position taken by the SDNPA.”

The CPRE remains firmly of the opinion that the proposed development is contrary to relevant policies of the adopted Local Plan (in accordance with which s.38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 required this application to be determined), the National Planning Policy Framework and National Park principal statutory purpose.

Speaking after Thursday’s meeting, CPRE Sussex local spokesperson Alan Smith, said:

“The scale of Durand’s proposal as it currently stands, is contrary to the fundamental purpose of the National Park which is to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.”

ENDS