®Planning appeal decision
Aldridge Grove, Hampden Road, Denner Hill, Buckinghamshire, HP16 9RL
Without planning permission the material change of use of the land to an Air Rifle range along with the siting of associated paraphernalia and the carrying out of operational development to facilitate this unauthorised material change of use including: 1) the erection of a range compound building as shown outlined in yellow on the attached plan; and 2) the siting of a container for ancillary storage shown outlined in green on the attached plan; and 3) the siting of a WC structure shown shaded in pink on the attached plan; and 4) the erection of boundary fencing and netting in the position shown by brown on the attached plan; and 5) the laying of hardstanding to create car park shown hatched in blue on the attached plan
- Authority
- Buckinghamshire Council - Wycombe Area *
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Major retail and services
- Inspector
- Stephens K
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appeal development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the Framework and the development plan, and the effect of the appeal development on the openness of the Green Belt and purposes of including land within it
- The effect of the site's location on parking and highway safety
- The effect of the appeal development on the character and appearance of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the AONB), with particular regard to design, noise and disturbance, and lighting
- The effect of the appeal development on the amenities of occupiers of neighbouring properties with particular regard to noise and disturbance
- Whether sufficient information has been provided regarding the effect of the appeal development on biodiversity, with particular reference to ancient woodland
- If the proposed development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, would the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, would this amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The development's status as inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing loss of openness and harm to the AONB, combined with inadequate parking, harm to ancient woodland, and adverse effects on neighbouring amenity, cannot be justified by the social and community benefits offered by the Club.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt's openness and purposes, great weight harm to the AONB's landscape and scenic beauty, harm to ancient woodland, inadequate parking, and harm to neighbouring amenities were not clearly outweighed by the significant weight given to the Club's sporting and recreational opportunities and social and community benefits, particularly given the lack of evidence that alternative sites had been considered.
Framework references: 137, 138, 147, 149, 150, 105, 176, 180
Plan policies cited: Policy DM42, Policy CP12, Policy DM33, Policy DM30, Policy DM35, Policy DM20, Policy DM11, Policy DM13, Policy DM14
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.