BP’s appeal against Rother District Council’s rejection of its planning application on Udimore Road has been further rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.
The decision, made on Thursday, November 22, followed two visits to the site on 25 September and 8 October by DJ Board, the planning inspector.
The key issues were around light intrusion and how the petrol station would impinge on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The inspector said "The construction of a petrol filling station would appear as noticeably isolated urban intrusion into the open countryside that encases this part of Rye."
One of her concerns was that when leaving the main built-up area of Rye it very quickly becomes much darker with no street or other significant sources of light. She concluded, "That the proposals would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the setting of the High Weald AONB."
The strength of the rejection of the appeal should put to rest BP’s plan for a petrol station on Udimore Road. In addition, the soon to be finalised Rye Neighbourhood Plan has identified an alternative site for an additional petrol station on the A259 at New Road.
You can read the full decision here.
