Oak Cottage, Lowry Hill Lane, Lathom, Lancashire, L40 5UL

Planning appeal 3370917 at Oak Cottage, Lowry Hill Lane, Lathom, Lancashire, L40 5UL (West Lancashire District Council) was allowed on 25 November 2025 by Inspector Lancaster K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies and the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt.

the construction of a single storey rear extension, first floor extension and side facing porch following demolition of the existing porch

Authority: West Lancashire District Council
Appeal type: householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Householder developments
Inspector: Lancaster K
Postcode: L40 5UL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies and the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
If the proposal is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The extensions, although exceeding the 40% volume guideline, would not appear disproportionate due to their limited scale, bulk, rear siting below road level, and minimal effect on Green Belt openness and purposes.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy GN1Policy GB4
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 154

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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.