®Planning appeal decision
Land to the NW of Harlocks Farm, Stuntney, CB7 5TR
proposed development of four tennis courts (with external lighting), fencing, clubhouse, and associated parking, drainage, utilities and landscaping
- Authority
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Major R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on protected species, with particular regard to bats
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- whether the proposed development provides adequate parking provision
- whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development, including its accessibility by sustainable modes of transport
- whether the proposed development meets biodiversity net gain objectives
What decided it
Insufficient information (absence of a bat survey) to demonstrate the proposal would not cause significant harm to a European Protected Species (bats).
The significant social benefits, together with limited economic and environmental (BNG) benefits, outweighed the moderate harm to character and appearance and the limited harm from parking under-provision, but did not outweigh the significant harm arising from insufficient information on the impact on protected bats, which was decisive in tipping the balance against the proposal.
Framework references: 193, 187, 110
Plan policies cited: ENV 7, ENV 1, ENV 2, ENV 9, COM 4, COM 7, COM 8, Growth 2, EN 7, NE.6
Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL 1982 P37]; Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin)
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.