®Planning appeal decision
Land at 4a Wiswell Lane, Whalley, BB7 9AF
Planning appeal 3365109 at Land at 4a Wiswell Lane, Whalley, BB7 9AF (Ribble Valley Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 23 March 2026 by Inspector Hitchcock R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Appeal A Ground (d): whether at the date the enforcement notice was issued, enforcement action could be taken in respect of the breach.
‘Retrospective planning application for the retention of a single dwelling house and associated parking, soft and hard landscaping and associated works ’
- Authority
- Ribble Valley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Hitchcock R
- Postcode
- BB7 9AF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Appeal A Ground (d): whether at the date the enforcement notice was issued, enforcement action could be taken in respect of the breach
- Appeal A Ground (g): whether the period for compliance specified in the notice falls short of what should reasonably be allowed
- Appeal B: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the locality
- Appeal B: highway safety
What decided it
The development fails to provide safe and suitable access to the site and harms the character and appearance of the locality, conflicting with the development plan taken as a whole, and the Council can demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply such that the tilted balance does not apply.
The limited benefits of a single residential unit and the appellant's proximity to family members were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance and the failure to demonstrate safe and suitable access, with the development plan conflict decisive.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DMG1Key Statement DMI2Policy DMG3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 115
- Judgments
- Sage v SSETR & Maidstone BC [2003] UKHL 22; Gravesham BC v SSE & O'Brien [1982] 47 P. & C.R. 142
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
More decisions in Ribble Valley
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Notice varied and upheld3 September 20263374492Raja Farm, Land off York Road, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8DS
- Quashed On Legal Grounds30 July 202633755092 Northcote Park, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8FB
- Notice varied and upheld29 June 20263366045Bowland Wild Boar Park, Wardsley Road, Chipping , Lancashire, PR3 2HB
- Notice varied and upheld29 June 20263366044Bowland Wild Boar Park, Wardsley Road, Chipping , Lancashire, PR3 2HB
- Notice upheld28 May 20263363899Land Lying to Th North of Preston Road, Ribchester, Preston, PR3 3XL
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.