Mornings Mill Farm
A Planning Inspector has allowed an appeal for 700 homes and awarded full costs to the applicant after concluding a site was "unquestionably a highly sustainable location" with relatively few harms.
Members of Wealden District Council's planning committee refused an applicaiton last year for 700 homes at Mornings Mill Farm on the outskirts of Eastbourne on highways and transport issues, together with concerns about the location of the site and the eff ects of development drainage.
Alongside the housing, the application proposed 8,600 sqm of employment floorspace, a medical centre, school, community centre, retail space, playing fields, plus children's play space, allotments, internal access roads, cycle and footpath routes and associated landscaping and infrastructure.
The Inspector concluded the local authority's conduct was the "epitome of unreasonable behaviour". The members of the planning committee had originally overturned their officer's recommendation for approval, and at the Inquiry they withdrew its objections for the appeal the month before it was due to sit.
Mark Bewsey, Director at DHA said "We are pleased that the Inspector reacted so quickly and allowed this appeal within three weeks of the Inquiry closing. Despite strong political opposition, it is pleasing that the Inspector agreed that this highly sustainable location is suitable for the development as proposed, and that the putative reasons for refusal were unjustified. We look forward to seeing the development deliver much needed new homes in an area with a severe housing shortage."
Project Team
Laura joined DHA in 2004 as part of our original Graduate intake. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geography and Sports Science from Loughborough University, and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Westminster. She is also a member of the RTPI.
Laura Jackson MA
Associate Director
Over the years Laura has been involved in a vast range of projects, including various applications and appeals, with her area of expertise now within the education sector and public houses.
She leads the entire portfolio of the planning permission and highway license business for DHA, involving hundreds of Public House sites throughout the UK.
Some of Laura's recent projects include:
- Greene King Portfolio
- Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
- Hornchurch Leisure Centre
- New Live Fire Training Facility at Ashford Fire Station
- Dover Grammar School for Boys
- Major development at Mornings Mill Farm – Public Inquiry
- Cable Wharf Primary School
For the past 30 years, Laura has played hockey for Maidstone Hockey Club. However, she recently hung up her astros and has taken up running instead. She completed the London Marathon in April 2023 and the London Big Half in September 2023 and has plans to complete more races in the future.
Mark is a Planning Director within the DHA's Gatwick office and regularly leads the promotion of major schemes through the planning system.
Mark Bewsey MRTPI
Director
Stemming from a background working in-house at housebuilders Countryside and Crest Nicholson, Mark has developed particular expertise in residential schemes across the South East. This has involved giving evidence at Public Inquiry and Examinations in Public, the formulation of major planning applications and the submission of Local Plan representations. Mark regularly leads large multi-disciplinary schemes and works with leading Counsel.
Recent projects have included:
- An appeal for 700 houses, a primary school, medical centre, community facilities and 8,600sq.m of employment floorspace in Polegate (Wealden District) for which Mark was the Planning Expert Witness including giving evidence at the Public Inquiry
- Achieving consent for 140 houses in Hastings on behalf of the modular housebuilder ilke Homes
- Achieving Reserved Matters approval and assisting with the implementation of a major strategic site on the edge of Maidstone
- The promotion of a major residential site through a Neighbourhood Plan, achieving an allocation for 360 dwellings
Key clients include Bellway Homes, Countryside, ilke Homes, Mactaggart & Mickel, Obsidian Strategic, Stonebond, Vistry and Workman. Mark is currently promoting major residential and mixed use schemes across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Aside from residential work, Mark has a wide degree of experience in Commercial and Educational projects, including sport and leisure related projects. Recently this has included advising on large commercial schemes across the UK and an office tower in Croydon.
Mark has been a full member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2010.