®Planning appeal decision
207 Hayes Country Park Hayes Chase, Rettendon, Battlesbridge, Essex, SS11 7QT
Planning appeal 3374567 at 207 Hayes Country Park Hayes Chase, Rettendon, Battlesbridge, Essex, SS11 7QT (Chelmsford Borough Council) was dismissed on 13 January 2026 by Inspector Fern L, 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.
erection of 22 chalets for overnight accommodation for guests of the Lodge Hotel
- Authority
- Chelmsford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Fern L
- Postcode
- SS11 7QT
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
- Whether the proposal would achieve sustainable development regarding the location of the appeal site in terms of accessibility and the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- Whether harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing substantial harm to its openness, and this harm is not clearly outweighed by other considerations to justify very special circumstances.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S1Policy S11Policy DM6Policy DM10
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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.