®Planning appeal decision
The Brentwood Garden Centre, Vicarage Close, Brentwood, CM14 5GR
Planning appeal 3332073 at The Brentwood Garden Centre, Vicarage Close, Brentwood, CM14 5GR (Brentwood Borough Council) was dismissed on 31 May 2024 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: if condition 10 is reasonable and necessary, having regard to whether in the absence of this restriction, the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, and 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.
Change of use of the site including demolition of existing buildings and use of the land for storage and distribution (Use Class B8) and erection of a bin store/bike shed; vehicular entrance gate; enhanced landscaping and perimeter fence; parking, and pedestrian footpath on Vicarage Close
- Authority
- Brentwood Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- employment-industrial · Change of use
- Inspector
- Smith J
- Postcode
- CM14 5GR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- if condition 10 is reasonable and necessary, having regard to whether in the absence of this restriction, the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, and 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
- whether condition 13 is reasonable and necessary in its current form, having regard to the suitability of arrangements for maintenance of the surface water drainage system
What decided it
The harm to Green Belt openness and character and appearance resulting from unrestricted outdoor storage height was not clearly outweighed by economic benefits, so the very special circumstances required to justify removal of condition 10 did not exist.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy MG02Policy BE14Policy BE05
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154
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.