Land south of Taylor Drive, Woodsetts, Rotherham, S81 8SH

the erection of 10 no. semi-detached affordable dwellings

Authority: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Savage K

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal amounts to inappropriate development in the Green Belt
The effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
If the development is inappropriate, whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The appellant failed to demonstrate that the identified affordable housing need in Woodsetts could not be met in the nearby larger settlement of Dinnington, meaning the proposal did not meet the rural exception site test in Policy CS7(c) and constituted inappropriate development in the Green Belt without very special circumstances.

The benefits of affordable housing delivery, economic and social benefits, and biodiversity net gain did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt and other identified harm, so very special circumstances did not exist.

Framework references: 154

Plan policies cited: Policy CS7, Policy CS1, Policy CS6, Policy CS4, Policy SP2, Policy CS20, SP33

Judgments cited: R. (on the application of Robb) v South Cambridgeshire DC [2017] EWHC 594 (Admin)

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.

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