®Planning appeal decision
Eastfield Stables, May Walk, Elsenham Road, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8SS
Planning appeal 3374233 at Eastfield Stables, May Walk, Elsenham Road, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8SS (Uttlesford District Council) was allowed on 9 January 2026 by Inspector Dade E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, having regard to the local development strategy.
change of use of existing store and workshop building (sui generis) into a 3-bedroom residential dwelling (C3)
- Authority
- Uttlesford District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Dade E
- Postcode
- CM24 8SS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, having regard to the local development strategy
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether other material considerations outweigh any harm identified such as to justify the development
What decided it
The engagement of the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d) due to the Council's inability to demonstrate five years' housing land supply, combined with the finding that the limited adverse impacts of the unsustainable location would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the housing supply benefits.
The limited adverse impacts associated with the proposed location (conflict with ULP Policy GEN1(e) on sustainable transport, afforded only limited weight) would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits (modest positive weight for contribution to housing supply in an area with substantial shortfall, limited weight for socioeconomic and environmental benefits, neutral impact on character and appearance) when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GEN1(e)Policy S7Policy H6Policy H4(a)M1.2C of the Uttlesford District-Wide Design Code 2024Paragraph C1.1C of the Uttlesford District-Wide Design Code 2024Paragraph ID1.1C of the Uttlesford District-Wide Design Code 2024Draft Core Policy 16 (Stansted Mountfitchet and Elsenham Area Strategy) of the emerging Uttlesford Local Plan 2021-2041
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 61Paragraph 110Paragraph 115
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.