Planning appeal decision
Cottons Farm , Sculpins Lane, Finchingfield , CM7 4AY
Planning appeal 3271496 at Cottons Farm , Sculpins Lane, Finchingfield , CM7 4AY (Braintree District Council) was dismissed on 1 December 2021 by Inspector Sabu R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing with regard to character and appearance and the accessibility of services and facilities.
erection of 4 No. dwellings
- Authority
- Braintree District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Sabu R
- Postcode
- CM7 4AY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing with regard to character and appearance and the accessibility of services and facilities
What decided it
The proposal would conflict with the development plan by introducing four dwellings in an unsustainable location outside settlement boundaries, causing unacceptable harm to rural character and appearance compared to the fallback position of a single dwelling, and the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited housing benefits.
The limited benefits of four dwellings and renewable energy use were outweighed by the significant harm to rural character and appearance and conflict with the development plan, such that even without a five-year housing supply shortfall, the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy RLP2Policy CS5Policy CS7Policy CS9Policy RLP80
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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