®Planning appeal decision
Land at Wheatsheaf Inn, Norton Lane, Whitbourne, Herefordshire, WR6 5SF
Planning appeal 3366280 at Land at Wheatsheaf Inn, Norton Lane, Whitbourne, Herefordshire, WR6 5SF (Herefordshire Council) was dismissed on 9 September 2025 by Inspector Butcher C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, taking account of development plan policies and access to services and facilities.
the construction of two dwellings on a disused car park
- Authority
- Herefordshire Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Butcher C
- Postcode
- WR6 5SF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, taking account of development plan policies and access to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the proposal would include adequate arrangements in relation to waste water and surface water drainage
What decided it
The adverse impacts of unsustainable location requiring reliance on private vehicles and poor design that harms character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweigh the modest benefits of housing delivery, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.
The modest benefits of housing delivery on a brownfield site and environmental enhancements were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the adverse environmental and social impacts arising from poor access to services and facilities and poor design, resulting in conflict with the development plan taken as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy RA2Policy RA3Policy SS1Policy SS2Policy SS4Policy MT1Policy SS6Policy SD1Policy LD1Policy LD2Policy SD3Policy SD4Whitbourne Neighbourhood Plan Policy LU1Whitbourne Neighbourhood Plan Policy LU4Whitbourne Neighbourhood Plan Policy LU9
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 61Paragraph 73
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.