Hillfield, Allendale Road, HEXHAM, Northumberland, NE46 2NJ

the retention and change of use from agricultural workers chalet to holiday chalet

Authority: Northumberland County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: McGlone A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework
The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
Whether the proposal would accord with the Council's spatial strategy, including its effect on the character and appearance of the area
If the proposal is inappropriate development whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The Green Belt harm from inappropriate development, combined with harm to the spatial strategy and character and appearance of the area, is not clearly outweighed by the limited economic and social benefits of the proposal, and therefore very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.

Framework references: 155, 154, 137

Plan policies cited: Policy STP 8, Policy ECN 16, Policy HNP1, Policy STP7, Policy STP 1, Policy ECN 13, Policy ECN 14, Policy ECN 15, Policy QOP 1, Policy QOP 2, Policy QOP 4, Policy ENV 1, Policy ENV 3, Policy HNP 2, Policy ECN 1, Policy ECN 12, Policy HNP 23

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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