Land East of Mill Lane, Great leighs, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1PU

construction of new dwelling with detached carport, bin store and associated landscaping

Authority: Chelmsford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Pipe C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether there is justification for the proposed dwelling in the countryside in light of development plan policies which seek to restrict residential development in open countryside having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (2021)

What decided it

The proposed dwelling's design, whilst very good and contemporary, did not meet the rigorous test of being truly outstanding and reflecting the highest standards in architecture required by paragraph 80(e) of the NPPF for isolated homes in the countryside.

Framework references: 80

Plan policies cited: Policy S1, Policy S7, Policy S11, Policy DM8

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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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