®Planning appeal decision
Land to the rear of the Concrete Batching Plant, Picketts Hill, Headley, Bordon, GU35 8TF
change of use of land for the creation of a 12 Plot Travelling Showperson's site (comprising the siting of 1 mobile home and 1 touring caravan per plot, alongside the formation of hardstanding, and Showmen's equipment and storage areas)
- Authority
- East Hampshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Thandi B
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposal upon the integrity of the Wealden Heath Phase II Special Protection Area (SPA)
- The effect of the proposal upon the ecological value of Bordon Sandpit as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)
- The effect upon the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The likely significant effect upon the Wealden Heath Phase II SPA that cannot be ruled out, which provides a strong reason for refusing the development under NPPF paragraph 11(d)(i).
The substantial weight given to unmet need for travelling showpeople pitches and the personal circumstances of the appellant was outweighed by the very significant weight attached to the likely significant effect on the Wealden Heath Phase II SPA, the significant harm to the ecological value of Bordon Sandpit SINC, and the unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area, resulting in dismissal.
Framework references: 11, 28
Plan policies cited: Policy CP22, Policy CP21, Policy CP15, Policy CP20, Policy CP29
Judgments cited: Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin); Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment [JPL, 1982, P37]
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.