Land north east of Junction 10 of the M42 Motorway / north of the A5, Dordon, North Warwickshire, B78 1TB

development of land within Use Class B2 (general industry), Use Class B8 (storage and distribution) and Use Class E(g)(iii) (light industrial), and ancillary infrastructure and associated works; and development of overnight lorry parking facility and ancillary infrastructure and associated works. Details of access submitted for approval in full, all other matters reserved

Authority: North Warwickshire Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: employment-industrial · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
Inspector: Wildsmith D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, and whether it would maintain an effective Strategic Gap between Tamworth and Polesworth with Dordon
its effect on the best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land
its effect on the nearby strategic and local highway network, and on the safety and convenience of users of these highways
whether the proposed development would address an immediate need for employment land, or a certain type of employment land and, if so, whether the appeal site is an appropriate location to meet such a need
whether the appeal site represents an appropriate location for the provision of an overnight lorry parking area and associated facilities
whether any submitted planning obligations and/or planning conditions would adequately address the impacts of the proposed development

What decided it

The significant and largely unmitigated harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and to the integrity of the Strategic Gap between Tamworth and Polesworth with Dordon outweighed the benefits of the scheme.

the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of the proposal did not outweigh the significant harm to the character and appearance of the area and to the Strategic Gap, so the disbenefits outweighed the benefits and the appeal was dismissed

Framework references: 11, 109, 115, 180, 57, 85, 8

Plan policies cited: Policy LP1, Policy LP4, Policy LP5, Policy LP6, Policy LP14, Policy LP16, Policy LP23, Policy LP27, Policy LP29, Policy LP30, Policy LP34, Policy DNP1, Policy DNP4, Policy NW19

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.