®Planning appeal decision
Further Fen Farm, Lynn Road, Southery, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 0HS
a dwelling for Farm Manager Accommodation including a new weighbridge office and driver facilities
- Authority
- King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- agricultural · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Sylvester G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether, having regard to the relevant policies of the development plan and the Framework, which seek to avoid isolated homes in the countryside, there is an essential need for a rural worker to live at or near their place of work in the countryside
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The appellant failed to demonstrate an essential functional need for the farm manager to live permanently at or near the farm, given existing accommodation options nearby.
The limited benefits to the rural economy from an additional household were insufficient to outweigh the harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and the conflict with the settlement hierarchy, so the balance favoured dismissal in accordance with the development plan.
Framework references: 83, 84, 135, 180
Plan policies cited: CS02, CS06, CS08, DM2, DM6, DM15, DM16
Judgments cited: Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2017] EWHC 2743 (Admin); [2018] EWCA Civ 610
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.