The fields indicated are and have been for many years used by locals and villagers for walking and pathways through to guestling.
The village is already used as a cut through and can not take anymore traffic. The railway bridge and narrow roads are unsuitable for heavy traffic. There are often horses using the roads through the village. This is a beautiful village with a li Ely community already at capacity with the amenities available.

Negative effects on Health and Housing as indicated by the SA Assessment.
Negative effects on Countryside by removing open land.
Negative effects on Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Access to services, Land and Soil.
The proposed development site would increase car use as there is no bus service.
No pavements and a dangerous road to walk to access bus services. It is unlikely to be feasible to provide one.
Road pot holed and dangerous.
Area in AONB, which is slowly being eroded by development.
While is states these would be for affordable dwellings the site promotes the use of cars due to its location.

FORMAL OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
Site: Field at Halfhouse, Butchers Lane, Three Oaks
Proposal: Residential development of approximately 12 dwellings

1. INTRODUCTION
This objection relates to the proposed residential development at Field at Halfhouse, Butchers Lane, within the village of Three Oaks, located in the High Weald National Landscape.
While the provision of smaller and affordable housing is acknowledged, the proposed development would result in significant environmental, landscape, and amenity harm that cannot be adequately mitigated.

2. IMPACT ON THE HIGH WEALD NATIONAL LANDSCAPE
2.1 Harm to a Protected Landscape
The site lies within the High Weald National Landscape, a nationally protected landscape designated for its:
• Historic character and field patterns
• Tranquillity and relative remoteness
• Complex mosaic of small fields, hedgerows, and woodland
The site itself:
• Forms part of a historic agricultural field system
• Represents an undeveloped rural edge to the village
• Contributes to the transition between settlement and open countryside
Development of this site would:
• Introduce built form into an otherwise open landscape
• Erode the distinctive rural settlement pattern of Three Oaks
• Urbanise the edge of the village in a way that conflicts with its historic character
Although limited to the southern portion of the site, the development would still:
• Break the integrity of the wider field
• Create a suburban edge rather than a rural one

2.2 Loss of Tranquillity
One of the defining characteristics of the High Weald is its tranquillity, particularly:
• Low background noise
• Minimal human disturbance
• Dark skies and limited artificial light
The site currently contributes to this tranquillity due to:
• Its open, undeveloped nature
• Absence of continuous activity
• Separation from built form
The proposed development would introduce:
• Continuous residential activity
• Vehicle movements throughout the day and evening
• Domestic noise (gardens, deliveries, visitors, machinery)
Even small increases in activity in such a quiet environment result in:
• A disproportionate loss of perceived tranquillity
• A shift from rural to semi-urban character
This change would be permanent and irreversible.

3. ECOLOGICAL AND BIODIVERSITY IMPACT
3.1 Proximity to Ancient Woodland and Priority Habitat
The site is directly adjacent to:
• Ancient Woodland (irreplaceable habitat)
• Priority Habitat areas
• A pond ecosystem
These features are highly sensitive to disturbance.
While the proposal includes a 15m buffer zone, this raises concerns:
• This distance is often considered a minimum, not necessarily sufficient
• It does not account for:
o Noise disturbance
o Light spill
o Increased human presence
o Domestic pets (particularly cats and dogs)
Ancient woodland ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to:
• Changes in microclimate
• Edge effects
• Fragmentation
Development in such proximity risks:
• Gradual degradation of ecological quality
• Loss of biodiversity over time

3.2 Impact on the Pond and Associated Species
The pond to the north of the site is likely to support:
• Amphibians
• Invertebrates
• Birds and mammals
Development pressures may include:
• Runoff and water quality changes
• Disturbance from nearby activity
• Reduced habitat connectivity
Even with buffers, increased human presence can:
• Disrupt breeding patterns
• Increase predation (e.g. domestic pets)
• Reduce ecological resilience

3.3 Noise, Light, and Human Disturbance
Environmental impacts are not limited to land take. The introduction of residential use will result in:
• Increased noise levels, particularly in evenings and weekends
• Artificial lighting from:
o Street lighting (if introduced)
o Domestic lighting
o Vehicle headlights
These factors can:
• Disrupt nocturnal species (e.g. bats, owls)
• Alter feeding and breeding behaviour
• Fragment habitats
Three Oaks and its surroundings currently function as a relatively dark and quiet rural environment, and this proposal would erode that condition.

4. LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND HISTORIC FIELD PATTERN
The site:
• Is part of a larger agricultural field
• Reflects the historic landscape structure of the High Weald
Development would:
• Remove part of this field from agricultural use
• Introduce a hard, built edge into a previously continuous landscape
• Disrupt the historic pattern of land use
Even if part of the field is retained as open space:
• Its function and character will change
• It will become residual land associated with development, rather than true countryside

5. VISUAL IMPACT
5.1 Visibility from Surrounding Areas
The site is visible from:
• Nearby residential properties
• Public Rights of Way crossing and surrounding the site
• Higher ground within and around the village
In rural landscapes such as this:
• Even small-scale development can be highly visible
• Buildings, roads, and domestic features (fencing, vehicles, lighting) create visual intrusion

5.2 Seasonal Visibility
Visual impact is likely underestimated if based on:
• Surveys undertaken during periods of full vegetation cover
In winter months:
• Vegetation provides less screening
• Views into the site are significantly more open
As a result:
• The development will be more prominent for a substantial part of the year

6. HIGHWAYS, ACCESS, AND SUSTAINABILITY
6.1 Unsuitable Road Conditions
Butchers Lane:
• Lacks formal footways
• Is rural in character
• Is not designed for increased traffic volumes
The proposal would introduce:
• Additional daily vehicle movements
• Increased turning movements at site access
This creates:
• Safety concerns for pedestrians
• Increased traffic noise
• Greater pressure on rural infrastructure

6.2 Lack of Sustainable Transport Options
Despite proximity to a railway station:
• The absence of safe pedestrian routes limits accessibility
• Residents will likely be car-dependent
This conflicts with:
• Sustainable development principles
• National and local planning policy objectives

7. CUMULATIVE IMPACT
The impact of this development must not be considered in isolation.
Cumulative effects include:
• Incremental loss of countryside
• Gradual erosion of landscape character
• Increasing pressure on local roads and infrastructure
Over time, such developments:
• Change the identity of rural settlements
• Lead to suburbanisation of previously distinct villages

8. PLANNING BALANCE
While the proposal offers:
• Smaller dwellings
• Affordable housing
These benefits are limited in scale and must be weighed against:
Significant Harm
• Harm to a nationally protected landscape
• Loss of tranquillity
• Ecological degradation risks
• Visual intrusion
• Increased traffic and reduced safety
• Loss of agricultural land and historic landscape character

9. CONCLUSION
The proposed development would result in substantial and lasting harm to the environmental quality, landscape character, and tranquillity of Three Oaks and the wider High Weald National Landscape.
The site plays an important role in:
• Maintaining the rural setting of the village
• Supporting biodiversity
• Preserving the historic landscape structure
Development in this location would fundamentally alter these qualities.

FORMAL REQUEST
For the reasons outlined above:
Planning permission should be refused, as the environmental and landscape harm significantly outweighs the limited benefits of the proposal.

We object to the proposed development for the following reasons,
There are no footpaths or street lighting so residents would have to have vehicles or risk walking on narrow roads to access a bus/train. A vehicle would also be needed to get to the nearest shop 3 miles away, vehicles being the least sustainable form of transport (National/local policy aims stipulate this) and adding to an already too busy lane as its being used as a cut through, the road is full of potholes.
Mains drainage was only designed for existing properties, no allowance for further development was stated at the time.
The proposed development roof line could be very high as the field rises up significantly from road level, something that has been stipulated in previous developments to not exceed existing property heights.
This would be very detrimental to the environment, wildlife and this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Bordering an ancient woodland designated by the Woodland Trust
1066 National Walk (Hastings Branch) runs right through the middle of the proposed area and part of AONB
Sewage system put in by Southern Water clearly stated no further room for any more houses to attach and still not running correctly
No bus access (nearest bus stop is 3/4 mile away down an unlit 60mph road with no footpath and deep ditches)
No safe train access (no footpath down unlit road, train station 3/4 miles away and no disability provision AT ALL when station is closed as replacement bus routes do not stop at station as cannot turn around, they run from 3/4 mile away dowen the 60 mph unlit road with no paths and a ditch again) - also no crossing on main A road to bus stop on other side of road

FORMAL OBJECTION TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

Site: Field at Halfhouse, Butchers Lane, Three Oaks
Proposal: Residential development of approximately 12 dwellings

1. INTRODUCTION

This objection relates to the proposed residential development at Field at Halfhouse, Butchers Lane, within the village of Three Oaks, located in the High Weald National Landscape.

While the provision of smaller and affordable housing is acknowledged, the proposed development would result in significant environmental, landscape, and amenity harm that cannot be adequately mitigated.

2. IMPACT ON THE HIGH WEALD NATIONAL LANDSCAPE

2.1 Harm to a Protected Landscape

The site lies within the High Weald National Landscape, designated for its:

Historic field patterns
Rural tranquillity
Strong landscape character
The development would:

Introduce built form into an open agricultural field
Erode the rural edge of the village
Disrupt the historic landscape pattern
Even when limited to part of the site, it would create a suburbanising effect that is out of keeping with the character of Three Oaks.

2.2 Loss of Tranquillity

The site currently contributes to:

A quiet, low-noise rural environment
A sense of remoteness
Residential development would introduce:

Continuous activity
Vehicle movements
Domestic noise
This would result in a permanent and disproportionate loss of tranquillity, a key characteristic of the High Weald.

3. ECOLOGICAL AND BIODIVERSITY IMPACT

3.1 Sensitive Ecological Context

The site lies adjacent to:

Ancient Woodland
Priority Habitat
A pond ecosystem
Development would increase:

Noise
Light pollution
Human disturbance
These impacts risk:

Habitat fragmentation
Disruption to species such as bats, birds, and amphibians
Long-term ecological degradation
The proposed buffer is unlikely to fully mitigate these impacts.

3.2 Indirect Environmental Impacts

Increased lighting, domestic activity, and pet presence would:

Disturb nocturnal species
Reduce biodiversity
Fragment ecological networks
This is particularly harmful in a rural area currently characterised by dark skies and low disturbance.

4. LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPE

The site forms part of a historic agricultural field system. Development would:

Permanently remove part of this land from agricultural use
Introduce a built edge into an otherwise continuous rural landscape
Alter the character of the remaining land
This represents a permanent loss of countryside and heritage landscape value.

5. VISUAL IMPACT

The development would be visible from:

Nearby homes
Public Rights of Way
Elevated areas around the village
In winter, reduced vegetation would increase visibility, making the development more prominent.

The introduction of housing, roads, and domestic features would result in:

Visual intrusion
Erosion of open rural views
6. HIGHWAYS, ACCESS, AND SUSTAINABILITY

6.1 Road Safety Concerns

Butchers Lane:

Has no formal footways
Is not designed for increased traffic
The development would:

Increase vehicle movements
Create additional safety risks
Add to traffic noise
6.2 Unsustainable Location

Due to poor pedestrian infrastructure:

Residents will rely heavily on cars
The development conflicts with sustainable transport objectives
7. CUMULATIVE IMPACT

This proposal contributes to:

Incremental loss of countryside
Gradual suburbanisation of the village
Increasing pressure on local infrastructure
Such cumulative effects significantly alter the character of rural settlements over time.

8. VALUE FOR MONEY AND PUBLIC INTEREST

8.1 Disproportionate Impact for Limited Benefit

The development proposes approximately 12 dwellings, representing a relatively small increase in housing provision.

However, the impacts are extensive and long-lasting:

Permanent harm to a nationally protected landscape
Loss of tranquillity and environmental quality
Ecological risks
Increased pressure on infrastructure
Given the limited number of homes delivered, the scale of harm is disproportionate to the benefit.

8.2 Poor Value in Terms of Public Resources

This development will require:

Planning authority resources
Potential infrastructure improvements
Ongoing monitoring and mitigation enforcement
Where public funding or resources are involved—directly or indirectly—it is essential that developments deliver clear and meaningful public benefit.

In this case:

The number of people housed is small
The environmental cost is high
The long-term impact is irreversible
As such, the proposal does not represent good value for the community or the effective use of public resources, particularly within a protected landscape where higher standards should apply.

9. PLANNING BALANCE

While the scheme offers:

Smaller homes
Some affordable housing
These benefits are limited and do not outweigh the significant harm identified.

10. CONCLUSION

The proposed development would result in:

Harm to the High Weald National Landscape
Loss of tranquillity
Ecological degradation
Increased traffic and safety concerns
Loss of agricultural land and historic character
Additionally, the limited housing benefit does not justify:

The scale of environmental harm
The use of public resources
FORMAL REQUEST

For the reasons outlined above:

Planning permission should be refused, as the environmental harm and poor value for public benefit significantly outweigh the limited advantages of the proposal.

this is a small hamlet with no footpaths or facilities. It is used as a rat run including large lorries driving through making it dangerous to walk either to the railway station or for the bus on the main road. By building more houses increased pressure will be put on an already over used narrow road.