®Planning appeal decision
Chapelfield, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, E4 7RE
Planning appeal 3289822 at Chapelfield, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, E4 7RE (Epping Forest District Council) was allowed on 2 September 2022 by Inspector Ollerenshaw M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.
Demolition of residential dwelling, garden centre and associated outbuildings and erection of 80-bed care home (Use Class C2) (GIA: 4,076 sq m) and associated parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Epping Forest District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- community-institutional · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Ollerenshaw M
- Postcode
- E4 7RE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework
- whether or not the site lies in a suitable location for the development, having regard to access to services, facilities and sustainable transport options
- if it is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The significant contribution the proposal would make towards meeting the identified need for specialist nursing care beds for dementia patients, combined with substantial biodiversity benefits and removal of unsightly development, clearly outweighed the substantial harm to Green Belt openness.
The substantial harm to Green Belt openness by reason of inappropriateness was clearly outweighed by the significant benefits of specialist nursing care provision for dementia patients, substantial biodiversity gains, improved character and appearance, employment creation, and reduced vehicle movements, such that very special circumstances existed to justify the development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GB2APolicy CP2Policy SP6Policy DM4Policy SP2Policy CP1Policy CP3Policy CP6Policy CP9Policy DM2Policy DM22Policy NC1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 149Paragraph 147
- Judgments
- Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment (1982) JLP 37
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022
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- Dismissed26 October 20266008699Denver Lodge, Waltham Road, Nazeing, EN9 2EB
- Dismissed23 October 20266013055Millers Farm, Epping Road, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5DD
- Dismissed21 October 20266010759Spains Hall, Spains Hall Road, Willingale, Ongar, CM5 0QE
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.