®Planning appeal decision
Land to the South East of the A31 Ringwood Road and to the North East, Of Brocks Pine, St Leonards and St Ives, BH24 2LP
Planning appeal 3325232 at Land to the South East of the A31 Ringwood Road and to the North East, Of Brocks Pine, St Leonards and St Ives, BH24 2LP (Dorset) was allowed on 19 February 2024 by Inspector Butcher H, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
Hybrid application for full permission for change of use of agricultural land to SANG (extension to Avon Heath Country Park), demolition of existing café/visitor centre, engineering works and access/parking; and outline permission for a surf lagoon, climbing wall, visitor reception, café, administration building, new visitor centre, new café, kiosk, toilets, play facilities, SuDS and wild play structures
- Authority
- Dorset
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Butcher H
- Postcode
- BH24 2NR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- Whether safe and suitable access can be achieved for all users
- The effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands
- 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 very substantial cumulative weight of the SANG, biodiversity, economic, health/wellbeing and highway access benefits was found clearly to outweigh the moderate Green Belt harm, establishing very special circumstances.
the very substantial other considerations (SANG provision, biodiversity net gain, economic benefits, health and wellbeing benefits, Green Belt enhancement and highway improvements) clearly outweighed the moderate Green Belt harm (carrying substantial weight) and minimal conflict with Policy KS2, so very special circumstances existed to justify the development
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy KS3Policy KS11Policy ME1Policy ME2Policy KS2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 56Paragraph 57Paragraph 150Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
- Judgments
- The Queen on the application of Cherkley Campaign Limited v Mole Valley District Council v Longshot Cherkley Court Limited
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
More decisions in Dorset
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed29 October 20266010776The Bothey, Clayford, Wimborne, BH21 7BJ
- Allowed15 October 20266010988Land North Of Castle Avenue, Okeford Fitzpaine, DT11 0RL
- Dismissed2 October 2026601211555, Boundary Lane, St Leonards and St Ives, BH24 2SE
- Dismissed16 September 20266010756The Scrambling Field, Gaffer's Farm, Higher Halstock, BA22 9QX
- Dismissed24 August 2026600736938 Brook Lane, Corfe Mullen, BH21 3RD
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.