®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Town Farm, Pound Lane, Ditchingham, Norfolk, NR35 2DN
Planning appeal 3351811 at Land West of Town Farm, Pound Lane, Ditchingham, Norfolk, NR35 2DN (South Norfolk District Council) was dismissed on 14 July 2025 by Inspector Williams K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on protected species, with particular regard to GCN.
the erection of a paragraph 84 e) self-build dwelling, a living swimming pond, a new access, extensive landscaping and biodiversity enhancement
- Authority
- South Norfolk District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Williams K
- Postcode
- NR35 2DN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on protected species, with particular regard to GCN
- whether the proposal would be in a suitable location for new housing having regard to sustainable patterns of development and other considerations
What decided it
The proposal has not sufficiently demonstrated it would not harm Great Crested Newts or that a licence would be granted, and this very substantial negative weight afforded to the harm in respect of GCN overrides the benefits and significantly and demonstrably outweighs them.
The benefits of the design quality, environmental enhancements, housing contribution and economic/social benefits were outweighed by the very substantial harm to Great Crested Newts and the conflict with Local Plan Policy DM1.3 (though the latter was given limited weight due to the housing supply position), resulting in the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighing the benefits under Framework paragraph 11(d).
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM1.3Policy DM1.1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 84Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 193
- Judgments
- Braintree District Council v SSCLG & Ors [2017] EWHC 2743 (Admin); Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 610; City and Country Bramshill Ltd v SSHCLG, Hart DC and other [2021] EWCA Civ 320
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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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.