Oak Lodge Farm, Leighams Road, Bicknacre, Chelmsford, CM3 4HF

Planning appeal 3278018 at Oak Lodge Farm, Leighams Road, Bicknacre, Chelmsford, CM3 4HF (Chelmsford Borough Council) was allowed on 15 November 2021 by Inspector Chalk M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether appeal proposal accords with the local plan policy regarding replacement buildings.

demolition of existing building and erection of dwelling

Authority: Chelmsford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Chalk M
Postcode: CM3 4HF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether appeal proposal accords with the local plan policy regarding replacement buildings
Whether the appeal site is in a suitable location, having regard to local and national policies concerning rural housing
The effect of the development on European Designated Sites

What decided it

The existence of the Class Q consent as a fallback position, which would allow conversion of the existing building to a dwelling and subsequently permit replacement without policy conflict, carried great weight that outweighed the conflict with the development plan.

The fallback position of Class Q conversion rights carried great weight that outweighed the harm arising from conflict with Policy DM8 and the unsuitability of the location for rural housing.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy DM8Policy S7Policy DM16

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.

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The decision letter

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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.