Planning appeal decision
Lea Barn, Four Acre Lane, Thornley, Lancashire, PR3 2TD
Planning appeal 3278694 at Lea Barn, Four Acre Lane, Thornley, Lancashire, PR3 2TD (Ribble Valley Borough Council) was dismissed on 27 October 2021 by Inspector Caine M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
the conversion of a barn to a residential dwelling and associated works
- Authority
- Ribble Valley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Caine M
- Postcode
- PR3 2TD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Whether the site is an appropriate location for the proposed development having regard to the development strategy of the area and accessibility to local services and facilities
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the Forest of Bowland AONB, to which great weight must be given under paragraph 176 of the Framework, combined with the site's location outside any defined settlement in open countryside contrary to the development strategy, means the proposal would not constitute sustainable development.
The limited benefits of a single dwelling and the building's long-term viability did not outweigh the substantial harm to the AONB and conflict with the development strategy.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DMH4Key Statement EN2Policy DMG1Policy DS1Policy DMG2Policy DMH3Key Statement DS2Key Statement DMI2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 176Paragraph 80Paragraph 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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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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