®Planning appeal decision
Land at Plot 49 Roydon Lodge Chalet Estate, Roydon, CM19 5EF
Change of use from double leisure plot with original chalet, shed, hardstanding and cess pit to site for stationing of two static caravans for residential occupation by two traveller families with associated hardstanding, shed and storage of a touring caravan
- Authority
- Epping Forest District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Lewis D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the caravan site, is clearly outweighed by other considerations to provide the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The grant of a temporary (four-year) rather than permanent permission tipped the balance so that very special circumstances (unmet traveller need/absence of a five-year site supply and the personal circumstances of the family, including the best interests of the children) clearly outweighed the identified Green Belt and other harm.
On a permanent basis the substantial Green Belt harm and other lesser harms were not clearly outweighed by the benefits, but when confined to a temporary four-year period the same harms were clearly outweighed by the substantial weight given to the lack of a five-year traveller site supply and lack of alternative sites, together with the very significant weight given to personal and family circumstances, establishing very special circumstances.
Plan policies cited: Policy GB2A, Policy RST10A, Policy H10A, Policy CP1, Policy CP2, Policy GB7A, Policy U2A, Policy NC1, Policy LL3, Policy DM2, Policy DM22, Policy SP 2, Policy SP 4, Policy SP 5, Policy H 4
Judgments cited: Pitman v Secretary of State for the Environment [1989] JPL 831
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.