38 Roydon Lodge Estate, High Street, Roydon, HARLOW, CM19 5EF

a material change in the use of the land from a mixed use for leisure and residential occupation of a caravan to the use of the land as a gypsy and traveller caravan site without complying with a condition attached to planning permission Ref APP/J1535/C/14/2211759, dated 30 July 2015 (LPA ref: ENF/0721/10)

Authority: Epping Forest District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Lewis D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to provide the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development, whether on a permanent or temporary basis

What decided it

The substantial unmet need for and shortfall in the supply of deliverable gypsy and traveller sites, combined with very significant weight given to the appellants' personal circumstances and the best interests of their children, amounted to very special circumstances clearly outweighing the Green Belt and other harm.

The Green Belt harm from inappropriateness and limited loss of openness (substantial weight) plus a small amount of weight against from flood risk was clearly outweighed by the substantial weight given to unmet need/lack of a five-year supply of sites and the very significant weight given to the appellants' personal circumstances, so that very special circumstances existed to justify the development.

Plan policies cited: Policy GB2A, Policy RST10A, Policy H10A, Policy CP1, Policy CP2, Policy GB7A, Policy U2A, Policy NC1, Policy LL3, Policy DM 2, Policy DM 22, Policy SP 2, Policy SP 5, Policy H 4

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.