Lock Farm House Dell Lane, Spellbrook, BISHOP'S STORTFORD, CM22 7SG

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

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.

Framework references: 11, 110, 115, 124, 125, 153, 154, 155

Plan policies cited: Policy S6, Policy GEN7

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.