Little Acre Farm, Norton Mandeville, Norton Lane, High Ongar, CM4 0LN

demolition of all building and erection of two detached bungalows, associated hard and soft landscaping

Authority: Epping Forest District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Whitfield J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
whether the appeal site is a suitable location for new housing with particular regard to reliance on private car
the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
whether the development provides suitable mitigation for impacts on the integrity of the Epping Forest Special Area for Conservation with particular regard to air pollution
if the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and 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 development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would harm openness, and the benefits of housing supply do not clearly outweigh this cumulative harm to justify very special circumstances.

Framework references: 11, 60, 110, 142, 148, 152, 154

Plan policies cited: Policy DM4, Policy T1, Policy SP2, Policy DM3, Policy DM9

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.

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