Planning appeal decision
Eastfield Stables, May Walk, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8SS
Planning appeal 3271985 at Eastfield Stables, May Walk, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8SS (Uttlesford District Council) was dismissed on 30 October 2021 by Inspector Biggers P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the location is an appropriate one for housing.
improvements to existing site access, formation of new internal road, tree planting and landscaping, construction of 11 dwellings and associated infrastructure
- Authority
- Uttlesford District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Biggers P
- Postcode
- CM24 8SS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the location is an appropriate one for housing
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the rural setting and surroundings
- whether development of the site for housing would require a planning obligation to secure affordable housing
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the rural area from spreading development across greenfield paddocks, combined with the poor relationship to nearby settlements and the failure to secure affordable housing through a legal agreement, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest contribution to housing supply.
The modest contribution of 11 units to the housing shortfall was outweighed by the harm to rural character and appearance and the conflict with affordable housing policy, such that the tilted balance did not justify departure from development plan policies.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S1Policy S3Policy S7Policy GEN2Policy H9
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 79Paragraph 174Paragraph 57Paragraph 69Paragraph 11
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


More decisions in Uttlesford District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
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- Dismissed13 October 20266009731Land North of Tile House Bungalow, Stebbing Green, Dumow, CM6 3TE
- Allowed6 October 20266006335Two Sticks, High Easter Road, High Easter, CM1 4PZ
- Dismissed1 October 20266010951Land North of the Bower House, Clatterbury Lane, Clavering, CB11 4QR
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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