Land off Knapp Lane, Oak Barn Farm, Knapp Lane, Alvington, GL15 6BJ

erection of up to 1no self-build dwelling, and associated works. All matters reserved except for access

Authority: Forest of Dean District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Edwards J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the dwelling would be in a suitable location having regard to development plan policies and the Framework
Its effect on the character and appearance of the area
Its effect on the setting and significance of Alvington Conservation Area and listed buildings

What decided it

The harm to the character and appearance of the area, recognised as intrinsic to the countryside under Framework paragraph 187, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of the proposal including self-build housing delivery.

The benefits of self-build housing delivery and the accord with Framework rural housing policies were outweighed by the significant harm to the character and appearance of the area and the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside

Framework references: 11, 73, 83, 84, 135, 187

Plan policies cited: CSP.4, CSP.1, CSP.2, CSP.5, CSP.16, AP.1, AP4, AP5, NE.2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.