Wealden District Council reportedly granted delegated planning permission in September 2026 for a bespoke country house designed by McLean Quinlan at North Clays Farm, East Sussex. The project’s planning consultant, Hughes Planning, describes it as among the first country-house approvals under Policy HO11 following an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 17 August 2026. The council’s decision notice and officer report were not available in the accounts reviewed, so the reported approval and policy basis should be treated as project-side information.
What is the country house clause, and what was approved?
The project-side accounts describe Policy HO11 as the route for a new country house in this case. David Jarvis Associates calls HO11 “formerly Paragraph 84,” while Hughes Planning associates the approval with an updated NPPF published on 17 August 2026. These sources do not reproduce the policy wording or criteria, so they do not establish exactly how the numbering or legal tests changed.
Hughes Planning says Wealden District Council granted delegated permission in September 2026 for a new home at North Clays Farm, designed by McLean Quinlan. The application reference, precise permission date, approved drawing schedule and conditions are not stated in the accounts. The council’s own decision notice and officer report were not available there, so the permission details and policy rationale cannot be independently confirmed from those records.
How does the design respond to the site?
Ironworking as an architectural reference
Hughes Planning says the design draws on the Wealden iron industry and nearby Tugmore Shaw, which it identifies as a Scheduled Monument and Ancient Woodland associated with ironworking. It describes the house’s central tower as resembling a blast furnace. The consultant also links the area’s ironworking history with woodland and water features such as pond bays, or hammer ponds, and says the scheme adds a pond to the south.
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Landscape, heritage and views
David Jarvis Associates describes the site as being in the High Weald National Landscape, adjacent to a Scheduled Monument, Ancient Woodland and Category A trees. It also says the site is within the setting of a cottage that became listed during design development, and that the house is visible from a nearby footpath. According to the landscape consultant, the house’s position responds to views in and out of the site, with existing and proposed trees providing a frame.
David Jarvis Associates says the proposals strengthen High Weald character and provide a buffer to Ancient Woodland. It also reports biodiversity net gain above the requirement, but gives no figure or metric; the scale of that claimed gain is therefore not stated.
What does the project account say about consultation?
David Jarvis Associates reports that a Design Review Panel encouraged and endorsed the proposals, Wealden’s planning team was actively engaged, and Historic England was pragmatic and supportive. These are the consultant’s descriptions of the project process, not substitutes for published statements or records from the panel, council or Historic England.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unconfirmed in the public account?
The approval date, application reference, exact site description, conditions and detailed policy reasoning are not supplied in the accounts from Hughes Planning and David Jarvis Associates. Nor do those accounts provide the official HO11 wording, a decision report, a biodiversity metric or formal consultation records. Without those documents, it is not possible to say which specific policy tests the council applied or what requirements attach to the permission.
The project-side description presents the scheme as an example of a country house approved under HO11, with a design shaped by local ironworking history and a sensitive landscape setting. The council’s decision notice and delegated report would be needed to establish the formal planning basis and approved details.
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