Planning appeal decision
Valencia Stables, Valencia Grove, Eccleston Park, St Helens, Merseyside, L34 2TS
Planning appeal 3326825 at Valencia Stables, Valencia Grove, Eccleston Park, St Helens, Merseyside, L34 2TS (St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council) was dismissed on 25 January 2024 by Inspector Veevers A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies, including the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt.
change of use from agricultural use to garden attached to house
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Veevers A
- Postcode
- L34 2TS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies, including the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- 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 required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The annexing of agricultural land for residential garden use conflicts with the Green Belt purpose of safeguarding the countryside from encroachment and reduces openness, constituting inappropriate development for which no very special circumstances exist to justify approval.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LPD05Policy LPA01
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 155Paragraph 150
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 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed29 April 202660024353 Catchdale, Moss Lane, St Helens, WA10 5QG
- Allowed6 August 20253363687Land South of 33 Mill Lane, Bold Heath , St Helens , WA8 3UU
- Dismissed27 May 202533569661 Maggotts Nook Road, Rainford, Merseyside, WA11 8PJ
- Dismissed26 April 20243326708Ace of Hearts Garage, Warrington Road, St Helens, WA8 3XN
- Dismissed23 February 20243330801Whitewings Farm, Foxs Bank Lane, Knowsley, Cronton, L35 3SS
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.
®