®Planning appeal decision
The Stables, Dale Lane, Lickey End Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 1GZ
a mixed use for stationing caravans for residential use and the keeping of horses, with dayrooms and existing stable ancillary to that use
- Authority
- Bromsgrove District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Wood T
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- Whether any other harm to the Green Belt results from the development
- The effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether the 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 necessary to justify it
What decided it
The long-standing, unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the district, combined with the Council's inability to identify alternative sites outside the Green Belt, amounted to very special circumstances clearly outweighing the identified Green Belt and character harm.
The substantial harm from inappropriateness, together with harm to openness and moderate harm to character, was clearly outweighed by the significant benefit of contributing to the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the appeal.
Plan policies cited: Policy BDP4, Policy BDP19, Policy BDP11
Judgments cited: Smith v SSLUHC and Others (2022) EWCA Civ 1391
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.