TERRA approval at appeal for maresfield
TERRA is delighted to confirm that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed its appeal for the proposed development of up to 37 new homes on land west of Limestone Way, Maresfield. The outline planning permission includes detailed vehicular access from Limestone Way, with all other matters reserved.
The appeal was considered in detail by the Planning Inspector, who focused on two main issues: highway safety and the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring residents. In reaching their decision, the Inspector concluded that the site is well-related to the existing settlement, being bounded on three sides by development and identified within the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) as suitable for residential growth.
It was determined that the proposed scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety. The Inspector agreed that the mitigation measures put forward by TERRA would effectively manage traffic movements, ensuring that any residual effects on the local network would not be severe. Furthermore, given the low vehicle speeds anticipated within the development and the implementation of a comprehensive Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), any potential noise or disturbance to neighbouring residents during both construction and operation would be appropriately mitigated.
The submitted Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) was found to support the application, confirming that the site can be developed safely and sustainably. Importantly, the Inspector acknowledged that Wealden District Council is currently able to demonstrate only a 3.68-year housing land supply; this is substantially below the Government’s required five-year threshold. In this context, the appeal decision recognises that the proposed development will make a significant and positive contribution to addressing the local housing shortfall.
The Inspector also noted that the site had been draft allocated within Wealden’s emerging Local Plan, further underlining its suitability for residential use.
TERRA now looks forward to bringing the site to market in partnership with Hawkspur, led by Nick Harper, in the coming weeks.
Jordan Langdon-Bates, Land and Development Director for TERRA commented: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this appeal. The Inspector’s decision acknowledges both the site’s sustainable location and its potential to contribute meaningfully to local housing delivery. We look forward to working alongside Hawkspur to deliver a high-quality residential scheme that reflects the character of Maresfield and meets the needs of the community.”
The land specialist currently has 10 applications and 14 additional sites in the pipeline for planning in 2026 and plans to target new opportunities following a successful year to date.
Since 2015, TERRA has successfully sold development sites to buyers including Stonewater, Bromford, SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing Association), Vistry Group, Bloor Homes and Tilia Homes.