Dene Croft, Hopton, Wirksworth, MATLOCK, DE4 4DF

change of use and conversion of summerhouse to a dwellinghouse

Authority: Derbyshire Dales District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Vyse J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the development proposed on the character and appearance of the surrounding area

What decided it

The harm to the established character and appearance of the area caused by an incongruous plastic-clad chalet-style dwelling in a countryside location significantly and demonstrably outweighs the limited housing and economic benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

The harm to character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweighs the limited benefits of housing delivery and local economic contribution when assessed against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.

Framework references: 11, 135, 208

Plan policies cited: Policy S2, Policy S4, Policy HC8, Policy S4(i), Policy S4(n)

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.