®Planning appeal decision
Land on the Northeast Side of Bell Lane, Bell Lane, Bedmond, Hertforshire, WD5 0SQ
Planning appeal 3289566 at Land on the Northeast Side of Bell Lane, Bell Lane, Bedmond, Hertforshire, WD5 0SQ (Three Rivers District Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 22 November 2023 by Inspector Hanson S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and the effect upon the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it.
Material change of use of land from agriculture to a mixed use for agriculture, retail sale and display of goods (fruit, vegetables, plants, ornaments, garden furniture, Christmas decorations, hot and cold food and drink), and stationing/storage of structures, vehicles, materials and items not used in connection with agricultural use
- Authority
- Three Rivers District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- other · Change of use
- Inspector
- Hanson S
- Postcode
- WD5 0SQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and the effect upon the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it
- The effect of the development on the character of the area
- If it is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal
What decided it
The material change of use to a mixed retail and storage use, which is inappropriate development in the Green Belt that erodes openness and conflicts with Green Belt purposes, cannot be justified by very special circumstances as the limited other considerations do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm identified.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP11Policy DM2Policy CP12
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 137Paragraph 138Paragraph 147Paragraph 150
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Three Rivers
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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- Dismissed12 August 20266006827Land Adjacent to Sarratt Lane, Loudwater, WD3 4AS
- Dismissed30 June 20266004957Land Adjoining Westwood End, Bucks Hill, Kings Langley, WD4 9AS
- Notice varied and upheld11 June 20263352724Black Horse Pub, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5EG
- Dismissed8 June 20266005787Popes Croft, Chandlers Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 4NE
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.