Croppers Farm, Croppers Lane, Bickerstaffe, L39 9EJ

Authority: West Lancashire District Council
Appeal type: Planning
Procedure: Written
Development: residential
Postcode: L39 9EJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the scheme is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
Its effect on the openness of the Green Belt
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 proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight attracted by the Green Belt harms of inappropriateness and loss of openness was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.

Framework references: 153, 154

Plan policies cited: Policy GN1

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.
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