Planning appeal decision
Agricultural Building, Debdale Lane, Smeeton Westerby, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE8 0QD
Planning appeal 3270900 at Agricultural Building, Debdale Lane, Smeeton Westerby, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE8 0QD (Harborough District Council) was allowed on 10 September 2021 by Inspector Thompson P, by written representations.
Change of use of an agricultural building to a dwellinghouse (Class C3) and building operations necessary for the conversion
- Authority
- Harborough District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Thompson P
- Postcode
- LE8 0QD
What decided it
The Council's refusal of prior approval was based on structural integrity concerns that are no longer relevant to the prior approval process, combined with failure to engage with the applicant and inconsistent treatment of similar applications.
What the Inspector cited
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 39
- Judgments
- Hibbitt and another v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) and Rushcliffe Borough Council (2) [2016] EWHC 2853 (Admin)
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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