®Planning appeal decision
35 The Caravan, Tong Forge, Shifnal, Telford, Shropshire, TF11 8QD
change of use of land to Gypsy/Traveller Site consisting of four family pitches to include 4No. static caravans, 4No. touring caravans, 4No. amenity blocks with gravel drive and turning area. Appeal
- Authority
- Shropshire County Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Madge M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development carried out or proposed is inappropriate in the Green Belt
- If the developments are inappropriate in the Green Belt, their effect on openness
- The developments' effect on the character and appearance of the rural landscape of the countryside
- If necessary, whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the necessary very special circumstances required to justify inappropriate development in the Green Belt
What decided it
The development was found not to be inappropriate in the Green Belt (falling within paragraph 154(f)/155 exceptions as grey belt land) and the Council could not demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable traveller pitches, creating an immediate unmet need.
Negligible harm from intentional unauthorised development and conflict with policy MD6, together with neutral/mitigable harm to character and appearance, were clearly outweighed by significant weight given to compliance with policies CS5 and CS12 and to the immediate lack of suitable alternative sites, so the balance favoured allowing both appeals.
Framework references: 142, 143, 154, 155
Plan policies cited: Policy CS5, Policy CS12, Policy MD6, Policy MD12, Policy CS17
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.