Land For Development, Muckingford Road, Linford, Essex, SS17 0RR

Planning appeal 3342882 at Land For Development, Muckingford Road, Linford, Essex, SS17 0RR (Thurrock Borough Council) was allowed on 4 November 2024 by Inspector Richard Schofield, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes.

application for outline planning permission with some matters (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) reserved: Proposed development of up to 830 dwellings (Use Class C3) if the Lower Thames Crossing is constructed (scenario 1) and up to 1000 dwellings (Use Class C3) if the Lower Thames Crossing does not proceed (scenario 2), a new local road network including a vehicular / pedestrian railway crossing, a primary school, local centre and new areas of open space, including formal recreation

Authority: Thurrock Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Richard Schofield
Postcode: SS17 0RR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes
whether the appeal proposal would provide appropriate living conditions for future occupiers, regarding noise
the effect of the appeal scheme upon the operation of an existing business (being EMR)
whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations amounting to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The very substantial weight attributable to the delivery of market and affordable housing in an area with an extremely poor housing land supply record, combined with other benefits, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm and established the very special circumstances needed to justify the development.

Substantial weight attributed to Green Belt harm (inappropriateness, loss of openness and harm to purposes) was clearly outweighed by very substantial weight to housing delivery, significant weight to the rail bridge, and moderate weight to biodiversity, primary school provision, recreational facilities and economic impacts, amounting to the very special circumstances required to justify the grant of planning permission.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: PMD6PMD1CSSP2CSTP2
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 134Paragraph 152Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 193
Judgments: Coventry v Lawrence [2014] UKSC 13

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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

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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.