Land South of Alston Oak, Harlow Road, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 0AJ

Without planning permission, the change of use of 6 stables/outbuildings to residential dwellings with operations materially affecting the external appearance of the buildings including the addition of cladding and rendering, the installation of fenestration and the erection of fencing to create residential amenity spaces

Authority: East Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Walker A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the breach of planning control alleged in the enforcement notice has in fact occurred (ground b)
Whether enforcement action was possible on the date the notice was issued (ground d)

What decided it

The breach of planning control acquired immunity under section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 because enforcement action was not taken within 4 years of the change of use and substantial completion of the operational works.

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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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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