Land at Sheraton Hall Farm, Sheraton, Hartlepool, TS27 4RD

installation and operation of a solar farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Crosby L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

In relation to appeals A, C, D & E: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
In relation to appeal B: whether the proposal is necessary in relation to appeal A.

What decided it

The very significant benefit of the scheme's contribution to renewable energy generation and statutory climate change targets clearly and decisively outweighed the limited, localised landscape and visual harm identified.

The limited, localised landscape and visual harm (including within the AHLV) was clearly and decisively outweighed by the very significant renewable energy/climate change benefits and the biodiversity net gain secured, tipping the balance in favour of allowing the appeals.

Framework references: 174

Plan policies cited: Policy 33, Policy 39, Policy RUR1, Policy QP4, Policy NE2, Policy GEN1, Policy GEN2

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.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.