Land west of Hazelbrook, Denton Road, Horton , Northampton , NN7 2BE

an Outline Application for the Erection of Two Self-Build Dwellings with All Matters Reserved

Authority: West Northamptonshire
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Somers J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would provide a suitable site for development, having regard to its location in conjunction with the Housing Strategy of the area, the character and appearance of the locality and the sustainability of the location

What decided it

The appeal site lacks the clear, physical and relatable connection to the settlement confines required by LP Policy LH5 and the Housing SPD, and the unsustainable location dependent on private car use conflicts with the housing strategy and development plan policies.

the benefits of self-build housing delivery and socio-economic factors weighed moderately in favour, but were outweighed by the significant harm to the housing strategy, character and appearance of the area, and the poor sustainability credentials of the location

Framework references: 83, 70, 11

Plan policies cited: LP Policy SS2, LP Policy R1, JCS Policy R1, LP Policy LH5

Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL 1982 P37]; Braintree District Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greyread Limited & Granville Developments Limited [2017] EWHC 2743 (Admin); [2018] EWCA Civ 610

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.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.