Firtree Farm, Pages Lane, Stebbing, Essex, CM6 3PY

Planning appeal 3357859 at Firtree Farm, Pages Lane, Stebbing, Essex, CM6 3PY (Uttlesford District Council) was dismissed on 29 May 2025 by Inspector Catcheside E, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal, having particular regard to its countryside location and whether there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker.

Outline planning application with all matters reserved for a proposed permanent self build agricultural dwelling

Authority: Uttlesford District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Catcheside E

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal, having particular regard to its countryside location and whether there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
whether the proposal would accord with the statutory provisions for biodiversity net gain

What decided it

The proposal's failure to demonstrate compliance with the statutory biodiversity net gain requirements, with no effective mechanism to secure the self-build BNG exemption.

the proposal accorded with the development plan and would deliver limited-weight social and economic benefits, but the significant negative weight attached to non-compliance with the statutory BNG requirements outweighed these benefits, leading to dismissal

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy S7Policy H12Policy GEN2
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11cParagraph 11d

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Uttlesford District Council

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.