®Planning appeal decision
Land at Church Lane, Underwood, NG16 5HD
Outline planning permission for the erection of four detached dwellings, new highway access and associated landscaping on vacant land. All matters reserved
- Authority
- Ashfield District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hunter A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development upon protected species
- 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
What decided it
The absence of a complete grass snake survey prior to determination meant the proposal could not be assessed for compliance with Framework paragraphs 174 and 180(a) on biodiversity, and this substantial harm could not be outweighed by the limited benefits of the scheme.
The benefits of the scheme (housing supply contribution, economic benefits, and social benefits from future occupiers) were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the adverse impact of insufficient information to assess effects on protected species, to which substantial weight was attached.
Framework references: 11, 99, 149, 174, 180, 203
Plan policies cited: Policy ST1, Policy EV1, Policy ST4
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.