®Planning appeal decision
Well House Lodge, Willoughbridge Wells, Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, TF9 4JL
Planning appeal 6001212 at Well House Lodge, Willoughbridge Wells, Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, TF9 4JL (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council) was allowed on 17 February 2026 by Inspector Astley-Serougi B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development is suitably located having regard to relevant development plan policies concerning sustainable locations.
retention of former Well House Lodge as a dwelling and associated domestic curtilage
- Authority
- Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Astley-Serougi B
- Postcode
- TF9 4JL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development is suitably located having regard to relevant development plan policies concerning sustainable locations
What decided it
The Council's significant shortfall in housing land supply (3.08 years) engaged the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework, and the benefits of delivering an additional housing unit and providing independent living accommodation for a person with a protected characteristic outweighed the conflict with development plan policies on sustainable locations.
The unsuitable location of the proposed dwelling in the open countryside and conflict with the development plan was outweighed by the benefits of an additional home in a Borough falling significantly below required housing levels and the provision of independent living accommodation for a person with a protected characteristic, applying the presumption in favour of development under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP1Policy ASP6Policy H1Policy H9Policy LNPG1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 84Paragraph 110Paragraph 11Paragraph 73Paragraph 57
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 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Dismissed30 March 20266003241Part of Field 3373, Wesleyan Road, Ashley, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4JT
- Allowed23 March 20266002046Land Between Lymes Road and Whitmore Road, Butterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 4DT
- Allowed18 March 20266001959Land South of Carr Lane Farmhouse, Carr Lane Farm, Carr Lane, Audley, Staffordshire, ST7 8DP
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.