®Planning appeal decision
Land Adjacent South Side Marlow Road and A404 Junction, Westhorpe Park, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3FJ
production space and supporting buildings for screen-based media and associated services/industries. The development comprises: sound stages; workshops; office accommodation; Studio Hub; associated outdoor space such as backlots and unit bases; entrance structures and reception; security infrastructure; mobility hub; cafes; parking; bridge; incidental supporting buildings; associated infrastructure; public art; upgraded vehicular access onto Marlow Road; new cycle and pedestrian accesses; a new cultural/educational/recreational building; a new community building; and, associated landscaping, publicly accessible recreational land and ecological and environmental enhancements/habitat creation
- Authority
- Buckinghamshire Council - Wycombe Area *
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- McDonald K
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Need
- Character and appearance of the area and the effect on the Thames Valley and Chilterns National Landscape (CNL)
- Function and amenities of the surrounding area
- Locational sustainability and highway considerations
- Amenity of existing residents
- Ecology
- Heritage
- Green Belt
What decided it
The very substantial economic benefits of the proposal, combined with other social and environmental benefits, clearly outweighed the identified Green Belt, landscape, and heritage harms, establishing Very Special Circumstances.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt, significant harm to character and appearance, and great weight harm to the CNL and heritage assets were clearly outweighed by the very substantial economic benefits and significant social/environmental benefits, justifying Very Special Circumstances and permission being granted despite conflict with the development plan.
Framework references: 11, 49, 57, 58, 85, 86, 87, 110, 115, 116, 117, 143, 155, 156, 189, 207, 208, 212, 215
Plan policies cited: Policy CP1, Policy CP2, Policy CP3, Policy CP5, Policy CP6, Policy CP7, Policy CP8, Policy CP9, Policy CP10, Policy CP11, Policy CP12, Policy RUR4, Policy BE2, Policy DM20, Policy DM30, Policy DM31, Policy DM32, Policy DM33, Policy DM34, Policy DM35, Policy DM38, Policy DM39, Policy DM42, Policy DM1, Policy DM2, Policy DM6, Policy DM11, Policy DM13, Policy DM14, Policy DM16, Policy DM19, Policy 1, Policy 10, Policy 25, Policy 26
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.