®Planning appeal decision
Land South Of High Lane (North/West Of A690), Stoneygate, Newbottle, HOUGHTON LE SPRING, SUNDERLAND CITY BOROUGH, DH4 4NH
equestrian use of land, formation of horse track through partial re-levelling, fencing, and planting
- Authority
- Sunderland City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Cragg D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the relevant development plan policies and the Framework
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- if the proposal is inappropriate development, 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 required to justify it
What decided it
The moderate harm to Green Belt openness and countryside encroachment, given substantial weight, is not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of outdoor sport and recreation, so very special circumstances do not exist.
The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and limited harm to character and appearance weigh heavily against the proposal and are not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits to outdoor sport and recreation, resulting in dismissal.
Framework references: 147, 149, 150
Plan policies cited: Policy NE6, Policy NE9, Policy BH1, Policy VC6, Policy NE8
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.