®Planning appeal decision
Land Adjacent to No 2 Strathmore Gardens, Strathmore Gardens, Hornchurch, RM12 4BS
Planning appeal 6000820 at Land Adjacent to No 2 Strathmore Gardens, Strathmore Gardens, Hornchurch, RM12 4BS (London Borough of Havering) was dismissed on 22 December 2025 by Inspector Dickson R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal qualifies as an exception from the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and, if not, the implications of this.
for the erection of 1no. two-bedroom detached self build dwelling and associated works
- Authority
- London Borough of Havering
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Dickson R
- Postcode
- RM12 4BS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal qualifies as an exception from the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and, if not, the implications of this
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the neighbouring occupiers with specific regard to outlook
What decided it
The proposal's failure to secure the self-build exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain, owing to the absence of a signed and completed planning obligation, meant the adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing supply under the tilted balance test.
The modest benefit of housing supply in an area with 61% housing delivery test result was outweighed by the very substantial harm arising from the proposal's conflict with the statutory biodiversity net gain requirement, which could not be secured without a completed planning obligation.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 7Policy 10Policy 26
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 193Paragraph 11
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 London Borough of Havering
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed6 January 20266000263Land Adjoining 22 Clovelly Gardens, Romford, Essex, RM7 8NP
- Dismissed17 December 202560001761 Charlbury Crescent, Romford, Havering, RM3 8YR
- Invalid7 May 2025335960212 Ingrebourne Road, Rainham , RM13 9AL
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.