Planning appeal decision
Land South of Hobbits Hole, South Hanningfield Road, Rettendon, Essex, CM3 8HD
Planning appeal 3321748 at Land South of Hobbits Hole, South Hanningfield Road, Rettendon, Essex, CM3 8HD (Chelmsford Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 24 November 2025 by Inspector Ghafoor A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
Change of use of the land for sale and storage of motor vehicles with associated development, comprising the construction of a hard surface, concrete pad, fencing and the siting of a portacabin and storage containers
- Authority
- Chelmsford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- employment-industrial · Change of use
- Inspector
- Ghafoor A
- Postcode
- CM3 8HD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- The effect on openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- Whether other considerations clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm so as to amount to very special circumstances
What decided it
The inappropriate nature of the development in the Green Belt and substantial harm to openness, which represents a grave planning policy objection that is not outweighed by the advanced considerations including fallback positions or economic benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- SPS1SPS11DM6DM10
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 143Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Chelmsford City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Notice upheld3 August 20263347259Land at The House, East Hanningfield Road, Sandon, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 7TQ
- Planning permission granted28 July 20263337730Former Tennis Pavillion , The Old Rodney , Spring Elms Lane, Little Baddow, Chelmsford , CM3 4SD
- Dismissed28 July 20266007350Phillips Farm, Highwood Road, Highwood, CM1 3PX
- Split Decision1 July 20263377239Highfields Farm Barn, Highfields Mead, East Hanningfield, Chelmsford , Essex, CM3 8AW
- Dismissed18 May 20266006009Emilie, Stock Road, Ingatestone, CM4 9PQ
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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