Planning appeal decision
Gay Bowers Farm, Bakers Lane, West Hanningfield, Essex, CM2 8LD
Planning appeal 3347806 at Gay Bowers Farm, Bakers Lane, West Hanningfield, Essex, CM2 8LD (Chelmsford Borough Council) was dismissed on 27 February 2025 by Inspector Smith J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
removal of existing detached garage, lean to extension and rear porch and formation of 2 No. new double storey side extensions and single storey mono pitched rear extension
- Authority
- Chelmsford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Smith J
- Postcode
- CM2 8LD
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- the effect on the character and appearance of the host dwelling, having particular regard to its significance as non-designated heritage asset
- 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 development
What decided it
The proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing disproportionate additions to the original building and substantial harm to a non-designated heritage asset, with no very special circumstances demonstrated to justify the development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM11Policy DM14Policy DM23
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 143Paragraph 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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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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.
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