Conversion of existing buildings into 7 holiday lets at New House Farm, Sheepstreet Lane,

PROJECT OVERVIEW My wife and I feel that New House Farm, hidden away down a private lane ¼ mile from Sheepstreet Lane offers the opportunity to improve and convert the already existing outbuildings into beautiful self contained units, all of which have far reaching views of the surrounding valley, a large, family friendly living space and separate bedrooms, with self contained catering facilities, wood burning stoves, en suite bathrooms and roll top baths to give an excellent holiday experience in the private grounds of the farm, without impacting on the local environment. We expect to attract guests looking for a peaceful countryside experience, looking to enjoy every aspect this quintessentially English area has to offer. We feel this is the perfect area for us to choose as our new home. This farm has such a great potential to enable us to share its beautiful scenery and lifestyle. We believe we can bring a positive influence to an area we have been drawn towards as a place where we very much want to live and work. We are confident we will attract guests seeking a short break or longer holiday, and have a beneficial impact on local employment, promote local trade whilst always using local suppliers wherever possible

As well as the proposed holiday lets, there is a barn already converted to such a level that we believe the attraction of the individual lets will be enhanced with the prospect of people who are staying in the lets being able to relax in a peaceful, communal space.

MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT The attached designs show that there is no increase in the footprint of any building - we are converting and improving current buildings – and we believe that this will make a wonderful remote, rural holiday destination, without changing its appearance, the landscape or the view from above of this beautiful farm, and surrounding area. We are confidently predicting, once the development is completed, and our initial phases of promotion are underway, that our holiday lets will have a 75% occupancy rate, taken across the whole year. One of our highest priorities is to responsibly manage the attracting of guests as a holiday destination, whilst maximizing the potential of the surrounding area and its many facilities and businesses whilst they are staying in our holiday lets.

MINIMAL IMPACT ON LOCAL TRAFFIC Each holiday let unit will have 1 allotted parking space – there is already room for 7 guests’ cars without changing any of the current layout which should have a minimal impact on traffic and the environment. The entrance from Sheepstreet Lane into the private lane to the farm is comfortably 2 cars wide, with a clear view in both directions, and is adequate for a car to enter and another leave at the same time in complete safety.

POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY As well as being destination venues, our holiday lets will also be the perfect base from which to explore the local area. We want to promote the villages and facilities of the High - particularly , , and , and the popular nearby facilities such as ‘Arena Pursuits’ at Bewl Water and ‘Go Ape’ at Bedgebury Forest. We have studied other similar ventures, and have discovered that for every £1 spent in the local community by residents, £6 will be spent by visitors, such as those staying at New House Farm’s holiday lets.

POSITIVE IMPACT ON LOCAL EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESSES AND SUPPLIERS

Local employment needed for the holiday let conversions over 2 years: Architects – Robert Shreeve Associates Planning application specialist – Martin Hull from Kember Loudon Specialist for planning regulations and final design details Builders Bricklayers Master carpenter and further carpenters and joiners Electricians Plumbers Tilers Roofers Decorators General labourers Mechanical digger operator for laying drainage pipes and electrical cable Landscapers and landscape gardeners Eco waste specialist for the added waste facility Bespoke kitchen joinery company - locally sourced (Eridge Green Kitchens) Bespoke furniture companies - all locally sourced Soft furnishing companies - all locally sourced

Local employment needed after the holiday let conversions are completed: Gardener and cleaner Handymen Local farmer working the hay on our lower field

Wherever possible, local suppliers’ produce will be offered to guests, and also promoted onsite using their promotional materials : We would recommend the newly opened Etchingham deli, a short walk away, and would also use them for breakfasts when requested, and picnic hampers Lighthouse Bakery (for breakfast produce when requested) Other recommended butchers, dairy operators and farm shops Local animal feed suppliers for the animals we are intending on stocking.

Local venues our guests would enjoy visiting: Local pubs (e.g. The Bell at Ticehurst, the 3 pubs in Burwash and Burwash Weald, and the restaurants and pubs at Mayfield and Wadhurst). Many public footpaths lead directly from the farm to Ticehurst, Burwash and Etchingham, and we would promote local restaurants such as the Bistro at Etchingham Station, The Greedy Goat in Ticehurst, and various restaurants and takeaways around the area would benefit from our guests holidaying in this area.

Local pursuits the guests would be recommended to visit : Bewl Water / Arena Pursuits Bedgebury Forest and Pinetum / Go Ape Bluebell Railway King John’s Nursery and Cafe on Sheepstreet Lane Dale Hill Golf Club Tenoaks Equestrian Centre (and other local similar facilities) Falconry company as a daytime pursuit nearby Bateman’s - the Jacobean House in Burwash Kalmora Spa in Goudhurst Mapped country walks It is also an ideal area for cycling enthusiasts.

The local area, within 5 miles of New House Farm has many more daytime and evening opportunities to enjoy – from the many wonderful public country gardens to the numerous local country pubs and restaurants. Also, the lets, their views, the communal barn, solely for the use of people staying in the holiday lets, and beautiful gardens make New House Farm very much a destination in its own right. WHY WE BELIEVE THIS BUSINESS WILL BE A SUCCESS AND CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL AREA – Mr Jon Carter has 15 years of experience as a responsible landlord in the hospitality trade, and is extremely experienced and respected in caring safely for guests, promoting the enjoyment of a responsibly controlled environment, always working closely with the local council representatives, the police, and their combined community awareness groups. Mrs Nina Carter has 14 years experience as a PR expert which will ensure the skilled promotion of the holiday lets in the appropriate way, promoting the holiday lets as a destination for those looking for peace and quiet in the countryside. We have all the necessary funds available to process this whole development, and have considered all potential expenses and risks to a satisfactory conclusion. We are proposing 3 recommended arrival / turnover days per week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, offering 1 or more, week long holidays, weekend breaks and midweek getaways. We will clearly outline suggested behaviour for our guests, promoting a responsible attitude towards the environment, and also to the careful and minimal use of cars. We were invited to meet with members of our surrounding local community, and we have tried to closely address all issues they expressed in that meeting with this application. We hope to be a long term asset, promoting the local area, where we hope to live quietly for many years, raising our family, and enjoying the environment to which we already feel such an affinity. We will be sensitively priced to make this wonderful farm available to as many different guests as possible, but still expect to make a good living from these holiday lets.

BUSINESS POSITIONING - Our wide ranging target demographic will include families, couples, groups of friends, or just individuals of all ages looking for a relaxed country retreat. Families will be accommodated with extra cots or beds made available in the lets for children, where there is plenty of space in the living area of each let.

This will be a family owned and run business, accommodating the wishes of bucolic beauty seekers, city dwellers wanting to get out of town, or anybody who just wants an escape from it all. We will make sure every guest feels they have individual attention where required, or can simply be left alone in comfort.

Our ultimate wish is to accommodate absolutely anybody who wishes to experience the English countryside at its most authentic, at a sensitive price – making this beautiful part of the world affordable where a similarly situated hotel would prove inaccessible to many.