Land at Cherry Orchard Farm, Stafford Road, Longdon, Rugeley, WS15 4PS

change of use of land to use as residential caravan site for one gypsy family with two caravans, together with erection of ancillary amenity building and laying of hardstanding (retrospective)

Authority: Lichfield District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Pleasant L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the caravan site, is clearly outweighed by other considerations to provide the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

the combination of substantial unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, lack of alternative accommodation and the family's personal circumstances/best interests of the children clearly outweighed the Green Belt and other harm, establishing very special circumstances

the substantial Green Belt harm and limited other harm were clearly outweighed by the substantial weight given to unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, policy failure, lack of alternative accommodation and personal circumstances/best interests of the children, establishing very special circumstances

Framework references: 105

Plan policies cited: Policy NR2, Policy H3, Policy BE1, Core Policy 14, Policy BE2, Policy NR7, Policies 1 and 4 of the Longdon Parish Neighbourhood Plan

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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