®Planning appeal decision
Land and premises known as Woodview, Brockford Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5SG
without planning permission, the change of use of agricultural land for the stationing of a caravan for residential occupation; laying of hardstanding; erection of buildings, siting of a container and formation of new vehicular access off Brockford Road
- Authority
- Mid Suffolk District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Perrins R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the countryside location.
- Whether the development would comply with planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding.
- Whether the appeal site is situated within a sustainable location.
- whether there are any other considerations to outweigh any harm identified.
What decided it
The combination of unmet Gypsy and Traveller site need, absence of any available alternative site, and the occupiers' personal circumstances was sufficient to outweigh the identified harms only on a temporary, personal basis rather than permanently.
The harms to character and appearance, flood risk and sustainability of location were not outweighed by the need, lack of alternatives and personal circumstances for a permanent permission, but those considerations tipped the balance in favour of a temporary, personal permission for three years.
Plan policies cited: Policy H7, Policy CS1, Policy CS2, Policy CS4, Policy CS5, Policy CS10
Judgments cited: Britannia Assets (UK) Ltd v SSCLG [2011] EWHC 1980 (Admin)
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.