Crumps Farm, Sawbridgeworth, East Hertfordshire, CM21 0LJ

change of use from agricultural storage to workshop (Class E(g) use), addition of single storey log store, together with associated elevational alterations

Authority: East Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: Cooper W

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the Framework and development plan policy
The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
If the development is inappropriate, 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 development

What decided it

The harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and moderate harm to openness, to which substantial weight must be given, is not clearly outweighed by the limited socio-economic benefits of the farm diversification business.

Framework references: 149, 148

Plan policies cited: Policy GBR1

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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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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