Planning appeal decision
The Old Rectory, Church Knowle, Dorset, BH20 5NG
Planning appeal 3352338 at The Old Rectory, Church Knowle, Dorset, BH20 5NG (Dorset) was dismissed on 16 June 2025 by Inspector Worley E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, with particular regard to its effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the Dorset National Landscape and the development plan.
the change of use of agricultural land to ancillary domestic garden/curtilage and the construction of a tennis court
- Authority
- Dorset
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Worley E
- Postcode
- BH20 5NG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, with particular regard to its effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the Dorset National Landscape and the development plan
What decided it
The proposed development would harm the character and appearance of the area and fail to conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the Dorset National Landscape, conflicting with the development plan and the statutory duty under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy E1 of the Purbeck Local PlanPolicy E12 of the Purbeck Local PlanPolicy V1 of the Purbeck Local Plan
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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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.
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