®Planning appeal decision
Land and premises known as Oak's Meadow, Brockford Road, Wetheringsett cum Brockford, Suffolk, IP14 5NR
without planning permission, the change of use of agricultural land for the stationing of caravans (one for residential occupation); laying of hardstanding; erection of building and decking/veranda 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 significant unmet need for gypsy and traveller pitches, the lack of any available alternative sites, and the appellant's personal circumstances was sufficient to outweigh the identified harms on a temporary, personal basis only.
The significant harm to character and appearance, flood risk, and the unsustainable location weighed against the development, but the need for pitches, lack of alternative sites and personal circumstances outweighed that harm sufficiently to justify a temporary, personal permission rather than a permanent one or dismissal.
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.