Planning appeal decision
Former Tc Hand Car Wash, Southport New Road, Tarleton, Mere Brow, Lancashire, PR4 6JP
Planning appeal 3303151 at Former Tc Hand Car Wash, Southport New Road, Tarleton, Mere Brow, Lancashire, PR4 6JP (West Lancashire District Council) was dismissed on 4 January 2023 by Inspector Brook S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Proposed demolition of existing building and canopy (café) and canopies associated with hand car wash facility and the erection of four retail units, comprising a mix of; two non-food retail units [Use Class E(a); one food retail unit [Use Class E(b)]; and one hot food take away unit [Use Class Sui Generis]; with associated external works, parking, access and landscaping
- Authority
- West Lancashire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- retail · Minor retail and services
- Inspector
- Brook S
- Postcode
- PR4 6JP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
- The effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupiers of nearby residential properties, with specific regard to noise
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, or any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal would have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development and would constitute inappropriate development, and the identified benefits do not clearly outweigh this substantial harm and the moderate harm to character and appearance, so very special circumstances do not exist.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GN1Policy GN3Policy GB3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 148Paragraph 149
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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