94 Shepherds Hill, Romford, RM3 0NJ

1. Without planning permission, the material change of use of the land to a dog walking business; and 2. Without planning permission, the installation of CCTV cameras

Authority: London Borough of Havering
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Boffin D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the alleged breaches of planning control constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt, the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework)
The effect of the development on the living conditions of nearby occupiers with regard to noise and disturbance
If the alleged breaches of planning control constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, whether this amounts to the very special circumstances required to justify the development

What decided it

The material change of use preserved the openness of the Green Belt and fell within the paragraph 150(e) exception, and any noise/disturbance harm to neighbours could be adequately mitigated by planning conditions.

Framework references: 137, 149, 150, 56, 130, 185

Plan policies cited: Policy G2, Policy D14, Policy 7

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

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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