Planning appeal decision
Bank Top Farm, Bank Top Hollingworth Road, Littleborough, OL15 0AU
Planning appeal 3334570 at Bank Top Farm, Bank Top Hollingworth Road, Littleborough, OL15 0AU (Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council) was dismissed on 9 October 2024 by Inspector Billings C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies.
erection of a farm shop with café and community room and ancillary accommodation with access, parking, and landscaping and other associated works
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Billings C
- Postcode
- OL15 0AU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- 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
What decided it
The substantial harm to the Green Belt through inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with adverse effects on character and appearance, was not clearly outweighed by the farm diversification and economic benefits, meaning very special circumstances were not demonstrated.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy G4Policy E6Policy P1Policy P2Policy P3Policy DM1Policy JP-G5Policy JP-G1Policy JP-G8Policy JP-C6Policy JP-C8
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 88Paragraph 142Paragraph 143Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 180
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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More decisions in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Allowed11 September 20253358849Rainshore House Over Town Lane, Rochdale, OL12 7TQ
- Dismissed4 September 20253356528Summit View Cabin, Salley Street, Calderbank Road, Littleborough, OL15 9NG
- Allowed25 April 20253352998Branch Road Farm Branch Road, Littleborough, OL15 0AB
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.
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