®Planning appeal decision
4 Beech Farm, Heath Lane, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7DJ
Planning appeal 3334469 at 4 Beech Farm, Heath Lane, Croft, Warrington, WA3 7DJ (Warrington Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 18 November 2024 by Inspector Freer P, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect on the openness of the Green Belt.
Material change of use of land to a workshop and storage yard (for caravans, machinery, equipment, play equipment, vehicles, storage containers, and other paraphernalia), with associated fencing, hedge, gates, hardstanding, stables and covered area
- Authority
- Warrington Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- employment-industrial · Change of use
- Inspector
- Freer P
- Postcode
- WA3 7DT
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect on the development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the 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 the development
What decided it
The substantial harm from inappropriateness together with the significant harm to openness and character and appearance was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations, so very special circumstances did not exist.
the substantial harm from inappropriateness and significant harm to openness and character and appearance were not clearly outweighed by moderate weight to business disruption, significant weight to impeding the appellant's gypsy way of life, and moderate weight to supportive representations, so very special circumstances were not established
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DC1Policy DC6
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 153
- Judgments
- Burdle & Williams v SSE & New Forest DC [1972] 1 WLR 1207; Challenge Fencing Ltd. v SSHCLG [2019] EWHC 553 (Admin); Emin v Secretary of State for the Environment [1989] J.P.L. 909; Thurrock BC v SSETR & Holding [2002] EWCA Civ 226; R (oao Watts) v SSETR & Hammersmith and Fulham LBC [2002] JPL 1473; Murfitt v SSE & East Cambridgeshire DC [1980] JPL 598; Caldwell & Timberstore Ltd v SSLUHC & Buckinghamshire Council [2024] EWCA Civ 467; Somak Travel v SSE & Brent LBC [1987] JPL 630
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 Warrington Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed8 June 20266006377Tan House Farm, Tan House Lane, Warrington, Wa5 4BY
- Planning permission granted14 May 20263348406Land at Wayside Bungalow, Knutsford Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 3LA
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.