Spencer House, King Street, High Ongar, Ongar, CM5 9NR

Planning appeal 3375562 at Spencer House, King Street, High Ongar, Ongar, CM5 9NR (Epping Forest District Council) was dismissed on 13 March 2026 by Inspector Bradley F, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including its effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt.

Proposed American barn style stables together with manage/arena and change of use to equine”

Authority: Epping Forest District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Other minor developments
Inspector: Bradley F
Postcode: CM5 9NR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including its effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
the effect of the proposal on pedestrian and highway safety
if the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether the 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 proposal

What decided it

The proposal would cause significant spatial harm to the openness of the Green Belt which, attracting substantial weight, was not clearly outweighed by the limited other considerations identified, so very special circumstances did not exist to justify inappropriate development.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy DM4Policy T1
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 154Paragraph 116

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Epping Forest District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

Dismissed28 October 20266011400
Larksmead Nursery, St Leonards Road, Nazeing, EN9 2HQ
Allowed27 October 20266008413
Sparks Farm, Nine Ashes Road, Nine Ashes, CM4 0JZ
Dismissed26 October 20266008699
Denver Lodge, Waltham Road, Nazeing, EN9 2EB
Dismissed23 October 20266013055
Millers Farm, Epping Road, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5DD
Dismissed21 October 20266010759
Spains 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.