®Planning appeal decision
The Lodge, Heath Lane Nurseries Heath Lane, Willaston, Neston, CH64 1TP
Planning appeal 3354908 at The Lodge, Heath Lane Nurseries Heath Lane, Willaston, Neston, CH64 1TP (Cheshire West and Chester) was allowed on 23 March 2026 by Inspector Watson S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework including its effect upon the openness of the green belt.
Without planning permission, the material change of use of the land from seasonal use facilitated by the stationing of a caravan (a caravan previously used in conjunction with the nursery business for security, seasonal work and rest facilities) to a residential use facilitated by the stationing of a caravan located near to the barn called hedgehog stables and blacksmiths
- Authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Watson S
- Postcode
- CH64 1TP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework including its effect upon the openness of the green belt
- the effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the countryside
- the effect of the development upon biodiversity
- whether the site is locationally sustainable in respect of access to day-to-day services by a choice of modes of transport
- if the proposal is found to be inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development
What decided it
The change of use preserves the openness of the Green Belt and does not conflict with its purposes, and the site is in a sustainable location with easy access to services in nearby Willaston.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy STRAT 9Policy STRAT 1Policy STRAT 2Policy ENV2Policy ENV4Policy DM3Policy DM44
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154
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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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.