®Planning appeal decision
Land Opposite Pen Villa , Isleham Road , Worlington, Suffolk, IP28 8SW
for a. change of use of land to Gypsy and Traveller residential use; b. 12 residential pitches each accommodating a dayroom/amenity building, up to two caravans and parking spaces; c. vehicular access; d. play area. This
- Authority
- West Suffolk
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Johnson W
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be in a suitable location with particular regard to access to local services/facilities and its effect on highway safety and the safety of pedestrians
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal site and surrounding area
- the effect of the proposal on biodiversity and protected species
- whether any harm arising from the proposal would be outweighed by other considerations
What decided it
The significant unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches combined with the very significant weight attached to the welfare of the children and personal circumstances of the future occupiers outweighed the moderate harms to character/appearance and biodiversity.
The moderate harm to character and appearance and moderate harm to biodiversity were substantially outweighed by the sustainability of the location, the acknowledged shortfall in Gypsy and Traveller site provision, the lack of alternative accommodation, and the personal circumstances of the future occupiers, particularly the children.
Framework references: 11, 56, 73, 174, 180
Plan policies cited: Policy CS1, Policy CS8, Policy CS3, Policy CS2, Policy DM2, Policy DM10, Policy DM11, Policy DM12, Policy DM13
Judgments cited: Stevens v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2013] EWHC 792 (Admin)
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.