Rookwood House, Widdrington Village, MORPETH, Northumberland, NE61 5ED

change of use and siting of two no. chalets to be used as holiday accommodation

Authority: Northumberland County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Walker R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the development plan would support the proposed holiday accommodation in this location
Whether the proposed development would preserve a Grade I listed building or its setting, known as Church of The Holy Trinity, and any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses
The effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area

What decided it

The harm to the Grade I listed Church of The Holy Trinity's setting through loss of the peaceful character of the graveyard, combined with conflict with the development plan, outweighed the modest public benefits of the holiday accommodation scheme.

Framework references: 199, 200, 201, 202

Plan policies cited: Policy STP1, Policy ECN15, Policy ENV7, Policy QOP1, Policy QOP2

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.

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