®Planning appeal decision
Lock Farm House Dell Lane, Spellbrook, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 7SG
Planning appeal 3366933 at Lock Farm House Dell Lane, Spellbrook, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 7SG (Uttlesford District Council) was dismissed on 15 August 2025 by Inspector Knight A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
demolition of existing outbuildings. Proposed residential development of 6 units with associated landscaping and vehicle parking
- Authority
- Uttlesford District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Knight A
- Postcode
- CM22 7SG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect on heritage assets
- the effect of the proposal on protected species
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would harm openness, and the other considerations, including housing delivery, do not comprise the very special circumstances necessary to justify it.
The significant weight attached to the delivery of new housing was outweighed by the requirement to give substantial weight to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, and by the failure to demonstrate a sustainable location.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S6Policy GEN7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 124Paragraph 125Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
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.