Planning appeal decision
Former Telephone Exchange , Raydon Road, Wenham Magna , CO7 6QE
Planning appeal 3299871 at Former Telephone Exchange , Raydon Road, Wenham Magna , CO7 6QE (Babergh District Council) was dismissed on 5 May 2023 by Inspector Berry A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site is in a suitable location for residential development, with particular reference to local and national development strategy and the reliance on the private car.
the conversion of two former telephone exchange buildings into a one bedroom dwelling
- Authority
- Babergh District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Berry A
- Postcode
- CO7 6QE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the appeal site is in a suitable location for residential development, with particular reference to local and national development strategy and the reliance on the private car
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
What decided it
The appeal site is not in a suitable location for residential development due to reliance on private car travel and the buildings lack architectural or historic merit, making the proposal contrary to the development plan.
The most important policies (Saved LP Policy CR19 and CS Policy CS15) are consistent with the Framework and not out-of-date, so the presumption in paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework is not engaged and the appeal is dismissed on the basis of conflict with the development plan.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS2Policy CS15Policy CS17Saved Policy CR19Saved Policy CN01
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 80Paragraph 84Paragraph 104Paragraph 105Paragraph 120Paragraph 219Paragraph 11
- Judgments
- Braintree District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Ors [2018] EWCA Civ 61
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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