Planning appeal decision
Land South East of Whitworth Lane, Brancepeth, Durham, DL16 7RD
Planning appeal 3342238 at Land South East of Whitworth Lane, Brancepeth, Durham, DL16 7RD (Durham County Council) was dismissed on 18 September 2024 by Inspector Francis M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
15m x 20m agricultural building with a 5m x 15m lean-to
- Authority
- Durham County Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Minor general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Francis M
- Postcode
- DL16 7RD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether there is an essential and functional need for the proposed agricultural building
What decided it
The proposal failed to satisfy the essential and functional need test under Policy 10 of the Durham Local Plan, as the building size was not clearly demonstrated as necessary and the financial viability of the enterprise was not adequately substantiated.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 10Policy 29Policy 39
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 6Paragraph 12Paragraph 15
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


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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.
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