®Planning appeal decision
3 Barbourne Road, Worcester, WR1 1RS
Planning appeal 3369637 at 3 Barbourne Road, Worcester, WR1 1RS (Worcester City Council) was dismissed on 10 November 2025 by Inspector Sedgwick P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development preserves or enhances the character or appearance of the Foregate Street and The Tything Conservation Area (CA) and its effect on the character and appearance of the building which is a non-designated heritage asset (NDHA).
Change of use of the rear ground floor and first floor (use class E) to 2no. residential flats (use class C3) with boundary wall and modifications to the existing external staircase - retrospective
- Authority
- Worcester City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Sedgwick P
- Postcode
- WR1 1RS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development preserves or enhances the character or appearance of the Foregate Street and The Tything Conservation Area (CA) and its effect on the character and appearance of the building which is a non-designated heritage asset (NDHA)
- the effect of the proposed development upon the living conditions of occupiers of the property, with particular regard to light, outlook, ventilation and private amenity space
- the effect of the proposed development upon retail vitality and viability
- the effect of the proposed development upon archaeological remains
What decided it
The unacceptable harm to the living conditions of future occupiers, particularly poor outlook, light and ventilation in the ground floor bedsit, combined with conflict with retail vitality policy, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing provision under the tilted balance.
The benefits of providing additional units of accommodation in a sustainable location were outweighed by the identified harm arising from the unacceptable effect on the living conditions of occupants and to retail vitality and viability, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SWDP 21Policy SWDP 10Policy SWDP 6Policy SWDP 24South Worcestershire Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (2018)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 207Paragraph 216
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
More decisions in Worcester City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed23 April 20263376719Pavement Opposite 102 High Street, Worcester, WR1 2QE
- Allowed23 April 20263376686Pavement Opposite 102 High Street, Worcester, WR1 2QE
- Dismissed19 February 20263376030Pavement Adjacent to 34–35 The Shambles, (1 Reindeer Court), Worcester, WR1 2DS
- Dismissed19 February 20263375808Pavement Adjacent to Premier Inn, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4RL
- Dismissed19 February 20263375807Pavement Adjacent to 34–35 The Shambles, (1 Reindeer Court), Worcester , WR1 2DS
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.