®Planning appeal decision
Oaklea, Sleep Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0QN
Planning appeal 3340726 at Oaklea, Sleep Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 0QN (Bath and North East Somerset Council) was dismissed on 11 December 2024 by Inspector Pickernell E, 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.
the erection of up to 9 residential dwellings (use class C3) with all matters reserved except for access
- Authority
- Bath and North East Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Pickernell E
- Postcode
- BS14 0QN
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 of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- 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 proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to openness and character, which is not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of housing delivery and economic contribution.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, loss of openness, and harm to character and appearance, to which substantial weight must be given, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight ascribed to housing supply, economic benefits, and other considerations, so as to amount to very special circumstances.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GB2Policy CP8Policy GB1Policy D1Policy D2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 142Paragraph 152Paragraph 154
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed30 June 20266006198561 Bath Road, Saltford, BS31 3JS
- Allowed13 May 202660013842 Culverhay, Compton Dando, Bristol, BS39 4LQ
- Notice varied and upheld12 May 20263349091Norton Lane Barn Norton Lane, Wellow, Bath, BA2 8QR
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.