®Planning appeal decision
Former Travellers Rest Car Park and Beer Garden, Steep Lane, Sowerby, West Yorkshire, HX6 1PE
Planning appeal 3335955 at Former Travellers Rest Car Park and Beer Garden, Steep Lane, Sowerby, West Yorkshire, HX6 1PE (Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council) was dismissed on 4 December 2024 by Inspector Cragg D, 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 any relevant development plan policies.
erection of a two-storey dwelling consisting of two main building wings joined by a glazed link; a detached outbuilding comprising of double garage, garden and bike storage areas, store, and plant room; and associated hard and soft landscaping including retention and extension of pond, drive way, boundary treatments and enhancement of existing dry stone walls through repair and reinstatement
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Cragg D
- Postcode
- HX6 1PE
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 any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development when having regard to access to services and facilities
- 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 and permanent harm to Green Belt openness and purposes, combined with moderate harm to character and appearance and location accessibility, is not clearly outweighed by the design quality, net zero benefits and biodiversity gains, so very special circumstances do not exist.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GB1Policy BT1Policy IM5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 84Paragraph 109Paragraph 149
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 Calderdale
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed22 October 20266012724Mona Cottage, 1 Dewsbury Road, Elland, HX5 9JU
- Allowed12 October 2026600957629 Syke Lane, Lightcliffe, Brighouse, HX3 8SY
- Dismissed9 October 20266008120Ashdene, Syke Lane, Ogden, Halifax, HX2 9NU
- Dismissed3 September 20266008062Land North of Helm Farm Cottages, Helm Lane, Triangle, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 3DU
- Allowed1 September 20266010078Windmill Court County House, Keighley Road, Illingworth,, Halifax, HX2 8YB
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.