Land at the Rear of the Birches, Hatton Road, Hinstock, Shropshire, TF9 2TX

i. Material change of use of agricultural land to mixed use agricultural and residential use following the erection of a structure in part used for human habitation in the approximate location marked with an ‘X’ on the attached plan. ii. Operational development on the land consisting of the erection of a building to facilitate agricultural storage and residential accommodation

Authority: Shropshire County Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: agricultural · Change of use
Inspector: Phillips A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the principle of the new development is acceptable in the open countryside
The effect on the character and appearance of the area
Whether the development provides a suitable standard of living accommodation for occupants with particular reference to the layout and facilities provided

What decided it

The absence of demonstrated functional and financial need for an essential rural worker's dwelling, combined with significant harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and inadequate living accommodation.

the identified harms to character and appearance and living conditions, together with the unproven need for the accommodation, were not outweighed by any benefits, resulting in conflict with the development plan as a whole

Plan policies cited: Policy CS5, Policy CS7, Policy CS11, Policy CS12, Policy CS6, Policy CS17, Policy MD1, Policy MD7a, Policy MD2

Judgments cited: Cardiff Rating Authority and Cardiff Assessment Committee v Guest Keens [1949] 1 KB 385; Skerritts of Nottingham Ltd v SSETR & Harrow LBC (No. 2) [2000] JPL 1025

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.