Planning appeal decision
Houghton Quarry, Newbottle Street, Houghton Le Spring, DH4 4AU
Planning appeal 3257868 at Houghton Quarry, Newbottle Street, Houghton Le Spring, DH4 4AU (Sunderland City Council) was dismissed on 28 June 2024 by Inspector Brooker M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant Development Plan policies.
The redevelopment of Houghton Le Spring Quarry landfill site, comprising a revision to the final landfill restoration contours; development of an employment park, consisting of offices (Use Class B1) (3,558m2 gross floor space), and buildings for general industrial distribution and storage (Use Classes B2 and B8) (5,992m2) with ancillary trade counter units; solar PV/renewable energy generation area (3,000m2), associated ancillary infrastructure, access, car parking and landscaping at Quarry Row Houghton Le Spring without complying with conditions attached to planning permission Ref 12/03178/FUL, dated 28 October 2013
- Authority
- Sunderland City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- employment-industrial · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Brooker M
- Postcode
- DH4 4AU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant Development Plan policies
- If the proposed development is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal would have a detrimental spatial and visual impact on the openness of the Green Belt that is not clearly outweighed by the waste management need, employment benefits, and business park provision, and therefore does not constitute very special circumstances to justify inappropriate development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy NE6Policy B2Policy EN5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 143Paragraph 152Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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