®Planning appeal decision
Land North of Eilansgate, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3EW
Planning appeal 3307323 at Land North of Eilansgate, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3EW (Northumberland County Council) was dismissed on 25 April 2023 by Inspector Baxter C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
development for up to 43 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), demolition, infrastructure, access, open space and landscaping (All matters reserved except for access)
- Authority
- Northumberland County Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Baxter C
- Postcode
- NE46 3EW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposal on ecology
- Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the setting, character or appearance of the Hexham Conservation Area
- The effect of the proposal on drainage and flooding in the area
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, and if so, whether this would amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposals
What decided it
The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness was not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of the scheme, and therefore very special circumstances did not exist to justify the development.
The moderate weight attributed to the benefits of the scheme (100% affordable housing, investment in community sports facilities, and contributions to education and healthcare) did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy STP7Policy STP8Policy ENV 2Policy QOP 1Policy QOP 2Policy ENV 9Policy WAT 3Policy HNP2Policy HNP7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 149Paragraph 199Paragraph 148
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
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.