A Government inspector has over-ruled a decision by Wealden District Council to refuse the application to build on land at Tower Ride. The inspector said the open plan look of the estate would not be adversely affected by the proposal and added that the addition of another house on to the terraced row would not appear cramped or incongruous in the street scene. He also said that open spaces and gaps between end-of-terrace houses on estate had already been reduced by the erection of extensions. The inspector, Mr S J Papworth, said the district council had blocked the proposal because the estate had been laid out at a particular density. However, he added that there had been major changes in policy, which now advised higher densities. He said: The size of both the house and enclosed rear garden would be the same as its neighbours. The proposal would continue the design of the neighbouring houses including the stepped roofline and the rhythm of door cases and bay windows. He added: The open spaces within the existing development are an important and valuable feature of the residential environment. They provide a focus and pleasant outlook for the dwellings and serve to soften the otherwise regular, uniform arrangement of buildings, particularly of the terraced development. The inspector disagreed with Wealden planners in saying that the site s location, on the brow of a hill, would be prominent and appear intrusive. One of the conditions of the development was that samples of materials to be used in the building s construction had to be submitted and approved by the local planning authority. A Department of the Environment inspector has refused the appeal of Alan White, of Michelham Road, Manor Park, who wanted to build a bungalow on land next door to his home. Wealden planners turned down his application and that decision has been supported, with the DoE inspector saying: The original communal purpose of the amenity space now occupied by the appeal site has been lost by its enclosure but its use as a garden at least retains an element of undeveloped and landscaped space in the layout of the estate. The erection of the proposed dwelling would enter into that space to the detriment of the local environment and original open plan concept of the housing estate. Wealden planning officer Sue Gould said there had been quite a lot of encroachment onto open space on the estate, adding: Conifers are grown around the edge of open areas which end up being enclosed. Often these areas are included in the land ownership of the person enclosing them but the rule always is that we should avoid development of open space which contributes to the character of the estate. Cllr Len Ashby, chairman of the town council s planning committee, who lives on Manor Park, said the enclosure of open space was a big problem and the council was being vigilant to try to stop fences being put up. He was very pleased the appeal had been refused. Mr White, whose home is on the market, said he was disappointed about refusal and added that none of his neighbours had objected to his plan. Published: 19.7.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd