Land South East of Little Chalfont, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6SS

demolition of all existing buildings and the erection of residential dwellings including affordable housing, custom build (Use Class C3), retirement homes and care home (Use Class C2), new vehicular access point off Burton Lane, improvements to existing Lodge Lane access including works to Lodge Lane and Church Grove, new pedestrian and cycle bridge and associated highway works, a local centre including a community building (Use Classes E(a)(b)(e), F2(b), land safeguarded for educational use (Use Classes E(f) and F1(a), public open space and associated infrastructure (matters to be considered at this stage: Burtons Lane and Lodge Lane access)

Authority: Buckinghamshire Council - Chiltern Area *
Appeal type: other · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: residential · Unknown
Inspector: Wilkinson S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on openness and purposes of including land within the Green Belt
the effect of the scheme on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape and scenic beauty of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Burtons Lane to Doggett's Wood Lane Area of Special Character
the effect of the proposal on highway safety
whether or not the proposal would lead to an unacceptable loss of protected species and protected habitats
whether or not the scheme includes the infrastructure necessary, directly required and related in scale and kind to the proposed development
the effect of the development proposed on the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation and Ashridge Commons and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest
whether or not the proposal would lead to an unacceptable loss of best and most versatile agricultural land
whether the appeal scheme would increase the risk of surface water flooding
whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations such as to provide the very special circumstances required to justify development in the Green Belt

What decided it

The chronic and deteriorating shortfall in the Council's five-year housing land supply, and the substantial benefits of the housing (including affordable, self/custom-build and elderly accommodation) that the scheme would deliver, which clearly outweighed the Green Belt and other identified harm.

the substantial benefits of the scheme, particularly addressing a chronic and deteriorating housing land shortfall together with economic, environmental and other benefits, clearly outweighed the harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt and other identified harms, amounting to the very special circumstances required to justify the development

Framework references: 11, 57, 62, 81, 130, 131, 137, 138, 147, 148, 149, 150, 174, 176, 219

Plan policies cited: Policy GB2, Policy CS1, Policy LSQ1, Policy CS22, Policy CS32, Policy GC1, Policy GC4, Policy TW6, Policy GB30, Policy CS20, Policy CS24, Policy CS25, Policy CS26, Policy CS29, Policy CS31, Policy CS4, Policy CS8, Policy CS10, Policy CS12, Policy TR2, Policy TR3, Policy TR5, Policy NC1, Policy AS2, Policy GC7, Policy GC9, Policy H4

Judgments cited: Stroud District Council v SSCLG and Gladman Developments Ltd

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.