Planning appeal decision
Woodside Lodge, 9 Woodside, Thornwood, Essex, CM16 6LH
Planning appeal 3373204 at Woodside Lodge, 9 Woodside, Thornwood, Essex, CM16 6LH (Epping Forest District Council) was dismissed on 26 November 2025 by Inspector Simms S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal is inappropriate development for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policy.
replacement of existing gate with electric solid aluminium swing (on to property) gate, total height 2m. Current fence posts, either side of the gate, to be replaced with brickwork walls, same height as gate 2m
- Authority
- Epping Forest District Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- other · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Simms S
- Postcode
- CM16 6LH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal is inappropriate development for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and development plan policy
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- if the development is inappropriate, 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 the development
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm, and the other considerations do not clearly outweigh this harm to amount to very special circumstances.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DM4Policy DM9
- 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.
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 Epping Forest District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed26 October 20266008699Denver Lodge, Waltham Road, Nazeing, EN9 2EB
- Dismissed23 October 20266013055Millers Farm, Epping Road, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5DD
- Dismissed21 October 20266010759Spains Hall, Spains Hall Road, Willingale, Ongar, CM5 0QE
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.
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