Planning appeal decision
Hillside Nurseries, Leadendale Lane, Rough Close, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7NL
Planning appeal 3319821 at Hillside Nurseries, Leadendale Lane, Rough Close, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7NL (Stafford Borough Council) was dismissed on 10 January 2024 by Inspector Townend K, 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 the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
replacement of existing residential accommodation
- Authority
- Stafford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Townend K
- Postcode
- ST3 7NL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal 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 proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regard to the development strategy for the area
- The effect of the proposal on trees
- Whether any 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 proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would cause substantial harm to openness, and the fallback position of a replacement caravan does not justify a permanent dwelling, with no very special circumstances demonstrated.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP7Policy SP3Policy C5Policy N1Policy N4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154Paragraph 142Paragraph 124
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.
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