®Planning appeal decision
Raja Farm, Land off York Road, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8DS
Planning appeal 3374492 at Raja Farm, Land off York Road, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8DS (Ribble Valley Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 3 September 2026 by Inspector Hitchcock R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
- Authority
- Ribble Valley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Hitchcock R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect/s of the development on the character and appearance of the locality
- if found to be inappropriate, whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development
What decided it
The appellant failed to demonstrate on the balance of evidence that the building was in agricultural use or that a viable agricultural enterprise existed, such that the development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with no very special circumstances to justify it.
The harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, to which substantial weight must be given, and the harm to character and appearance, were not outweighed by the unsupported and limited-weight considerations advanced by the appellant; very special circumstances were not demonstrated.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Key Statement EN1: Green BeltPolicy GB7Policies DMG1Policies DMG2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Policy GB6Policy GB7
- Judgments
- Miller-Mead v MHLG [1963] 2 WLR 225; Oates v SSCLG v Canterbury CC [2018] EWCA Civ 2229; Lipson v SSE [1976] 33 P&CR 95; Ormston v Horsham RDC [1965] 17 P&CR 105
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
More decisions in Ribble Valley
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Quashed On Legal Grounds30 July 202633755092 Northcote Park, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8FB
- Notice varied and upheld29 June 20263366045Bowland Wild Boar Park, Wardsley Road, Chipping , Lancashire, PR3 2HB
- Notice varied and upheld29 June 20263366044Bowland Wild Boar Park, Wardsley Road, Chipping , Lancashire, PR3 2HB
- Notice upheld28 May 20263363899Land Lying to Th North of Preston Road, Ribchester, Preston, PR3 3XL
- Notice varied and upheld23 March 20263365109Land at 4a Wiswell Lane, Whalley, BB7 9AF
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.