®Planning appeal decision
Double Oak Farm, Wanborough Road, Swindon, SN4 0AA
change of use of the land to a Gypsy and Traveller site with two pitches, each with one mobile home and one touring caravan, a shared day room building and parking, with stables and associated paddocks for equestrian use
- Authority
- Swindon Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Gilbert J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be in a suitable location, with particular regard to the character and appearance of the area, accessibility, the development plan and national planning policy
- The effect of the proposal on highway and pedestrian safety
- Whether the proposal would provide an appropriate waste storage and collection strategy
- Whether any harm identified, including conflict with the development plan, would be outweighed by other considerations
What decided it
The significant weight attached to the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, personal circumstances of the occupiers and the lack of alternative sites outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance under the NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii) tilted balance.
Significant weight given to unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller sites, personal circumstances and lack of alternative sites outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance, so under the NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii) tilted balance the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits and permission was granted.
Framework references: 8, 11, 110
Plan policies cited: Policy SD2, Policy NC3, Policy HA8, Policy TR2, Policy DE1
Judgments cited: Waverley Borough Council v. Anthony Martin Gray and others [2023] EWHC 2161 (KB)
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.