®Planning appeal decision
Land north-east of Essington Primary School , Hobnock Road, Essington , Staffordshire, WV11 2RF
the change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for two Gypsy/Traveller families, each with two caravans including no more than one static caravan/mobile home, together with laying of additional hardstanding
- Authority
- South Staffordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Hockenhull H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal forms inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- the effect on openness and the purposes of including land in the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- whether other material considerations, clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm, such that very special circumstances exist
What decided it
The significant unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, absence of a 5 year supply or alternative accommodation, and the personal circumstances of the family (including children's education and healthcare needs) clearly outweighed the Green Belt harm, establishing very special circumstances.
the substantial harm from inappropriateness and the identified openness/Green Belt purpose harm was clearly outweighed by the significant weight given to unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, lack of alternative sites, and personal circumstances, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development
Framework references: 143, 144, 153
Plan policies cited: Policy GB1, Policy H6, Policy EQ2, Policy EQ4, Policy EQ11, Policy EQ12
Judgments cited: Turner v SSCLG and East Dorset Council
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.