®Planning appeal decision
The Four Ashes Inn, Station Drive, Four Ashes , Straffordshire, WV10 7BU
Planning appeal 3326668 at The Four Ashes Inn, Station Drive, Four Ashes , Straffordshire, WV10 7BU (South Staffordshire District Council) was dismissed on 18 March 2024 by Inspector Plenty B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies and its effect on the openness of the Green Belt.
the demolition of modern extensions to the public house and conversion of its historic elements to two dwellings, erection of seven dwellings, associated parking access, parking and landscaping, and retention of playing fields, play area, pavilion and car park
- Authority
- South Staffordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Plenty B
- Postcode
- WV10 7BU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies and its effect on the openness of the Green Belt
- Whether the proposed use would be in a suitable location with respect to local and national spatial planning policies
- Whether the proposal has demonstrated that the public house is no longer economically viable
- Whether the proposed development would function well, with respect to the design of the scheme and the noise impact from the adjacent highway
- Whether the proposed development would affect the integrity of the Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- If the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether any harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to very special circumstances to justify it
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would significantly reduce its openness through a 121% increase in floorspace dispersed across the site, and this harm is not clearly outweighed by other considerations to justify very special circumstances.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CS Policy GB1CS Core Policy 1CS Policy EV9CS Policy EQ11CS Policy EQ9CS Policy EQ2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 69Paragraph 142Paragraph 143Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 209
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
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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.