®Planning appeal decision
Dunton Grange, Lower Dunton Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3SN
Planning appeal 3344735 at Dunton Grange, Lower Dunton Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3SN (Basildon District Council) was dismissed on 14 January 2025 by Inspector Bell-Williamson J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework.
demolition of outbuildings and erection of a residential development of 6 dwellings including means of access, landscaping, drainage and associated infrastructure
- Authority
- Basildon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Bell-Williamson J
- Postcode
- CM13 3SN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework
- the effect on Dunton Grange, a non-designated heritage asset, and its setting
- the effect on the character and appearance of the appeal site and the surrounding area
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the appeal site and surrounding area, which would conflict with both the development plan and the Framework's key policies on design and local character, outweighed the benefits of housing delivery despite the Council's housing supply shortfall.
The benefits of six dwellings and contribution to housing shortfall (given significant weight) were outweighed by the substantial weight given to the conflict with development plan policy and the Framework regarding harm to character and appearance, resulting in adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighing benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy BAS BE12
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 49Paragraph 78Paragraph 135Paragraph 154Paragraph 216
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
More decisions in Basildon Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Split Decision16 July 20263353645Land West of Elizabeth Villa, Katherine Road, Bowers Gifford, Essex, SS13 2JX
- Notice varied and upheld14 July 20263357480The Hall, Church Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay, Essex, CM11 1RT
- Allowed14 July 20263357389The Hall, Church Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay, Essex, CM11 1RT
- Notice varied and upheld7 July 20263348737Land North of Studland Avenue, Wickford, Essex, SS12 0JP
- Allowed1 July 20266006402Land East of Bells Hill Road, Basildon, SS16 5JT
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.