Westerton Industrial Estate, SE of A688 (from Binchester Moor Roundabout to C96 Junction), Binchester Moor, Spennymoor, DL14 8AH

change of use of former pastoral field to become extension to industrial estate for class B8 use (storage and distribution)

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: Harrison F

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
the effect of the proposal on biodiversity

What decided it

The significant harm to character and appearance of the countryside and failure to deliver biodiversity net gain, in conflict with the development plan, outweighed the limited economic benefits of the proposal.

Framework references: 187

Plan policies cited: Policy 39, Policy 10, Policy 41

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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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.
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