®Planning appeal decision
Land at Colesbrook Farm, Purns Mill Lane, Colesbrook, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4HJ
Planning appeal 3364583 at Land at Colesbrook Farm, Purns Mill Lane, Colesbrook, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4HJ (Dorset) was allowed on 12 August 2025 by Inspector Smith H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development, having regard to local and national policy, with particular respect to self-build development.
a single storey self-build dwelling with associated parking and garden areas and improvement to an existing vehicular access
- Authority
- Dorset
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Smith H
- Postcode
- SP8 4HJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development, having regard to local and national policy, with particular respect to self-build development
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to the effect upon the Colesbrook Conservation Area and the setting of a non-designated heritage asset
What decided it
The significant weight given to boosting housing supply through a self-build dwelling in a sustainable and accessible location outweighed the conflict with the spatial strategy policies of the development plan.
the benefits of boosting housing supply and delivering a self-build dwelling in an accessible location with sustainable travel options outweighed the conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 2Policy 6Policy 7Policy 17Policy 20Policy 4Policy 5Policy 24Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2031 Policy 24Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2031 Policy 25Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2031 Policy 27
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 58
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.