Planning appeal decision
Cottonwood Lodge, Widleybrook Lane, Blackmore End, Braintree, CM7 4FD
Planning appeal 3290540 at Cottonwood Lodge, Widleybrook Lane, Blackmore End, Braintree, CM7 4FD (Braintree District Council) was allowed on 9 November 2022 by Inspector Wallace J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the condition restricting permitted development rights in respect of Classes A and B is reasonable and necessary in the interests of the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside.
demolition of existing dwelling and construction of replacement dwelling and cartlodge without complying with a condition attached to planning permission Ref 20/00681/FUL, dated 29 September 2020
- Authority
- Braintree District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Wallace J
- Postcode
- CM7 4FD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the condition restricting permitted development rights in respect of Classes A and B is reasonable and necessary in the interests of the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside
- Whether the condition is reasonable and necessary to ensure acceptable living conditions for future occupiers of the appeal property
What decided it
Paragraph 54 of the NPPF requires clear justification to restrict national permitted development rights, which the Council failed to provide given that landscaping conditions and the site's spacious plot would adequately mitigate any visual or amenity impacts.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- BLP Policy LPP 37BLP Policy LPP 52
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 54
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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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.
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