®Planning appeal decision
Plots 2 & 2A Greenacres, Oak Tree Farm, Chelmsford Road, Blackmore, CM4 0PZ
material change of use of land from the keeping of horses to a mixed use of the keeping of horses and the stationing of caravans for residential purposes and dayrooms ancillary to that use
- Authority
- Brentwood Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Pannell G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- 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 cumulative weight of unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, the appellant's personal circumstances and equality implications, and particularly the significant weight given to the best interests of the children, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm, amounting to very special circumstances.
The substantial weight attributable to Green Belt harm (inappropriateness and modest loss of openness) plus modest harm from intentional unauthorised development was clearly outweighed by moderate weight to accommodation needs/personal circumstances, considerable weight to unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, and significant weight to the best interests of the children, so very special circumstances existed and the appeal was allowed.
Framework references: 138, 152, 153, 155
Plan policies cited: Strategic Policy MG02, Policy HP07, Policy HP10
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.