Land North West of Oakview, The Ridge, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, ESSEX, CM3 4RT

‘New build house to north of existing house. New access way and drive to existing house (Oak View)’

Authority: Chelmsford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Walker C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal is an appropriate form of development, having particular regard to the effect on the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area
the effect of the development on the integrity of the Habitat sites

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d), and the benefits of housing delivery and preservation of character and appearance outweighed the conflict with the local plan's infill policies.

the small but important boost in housing supply and maintenance of character and appearance outweighed the conflict with CLP Policies DM8 and DM9 on infill development, applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development under NPPF paragraph 11(d) due to the Council's shortfall in 5-year housing land supply

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Policy S11, Policy DM8, Policy DM9, Policy DM16, Policy DM25, Policy DM26, Policy LBNP01

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.