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Dismissed5 May 20266003746

Laxton Meadow Farm, Southam Road, Cheltenham, GL52 3NQ

Planning appeal 6003746 at Laxton Meadow Farm, Southam Road, Cheltenham, GL52 3NQ (Cheltenham Borough Council) was dismissed on 5 May 2026 by Inspector Butcher C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

the change of use and conversion of an agricultural barn to a single self-build dwelling and associated works

Authority
Cheltenham Borough Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Change of use
Inspector
Butcher C
Postcode
GL52 3NQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
  • the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of future occupiers, with regards to outlook and daylight
  • whether the existing building is suitable for conversion
  • whether the proposal would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt

What decided it

The material harm to character and appearance caused by poor design, which significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits of providing a single self-build dwelling despite the housing land supply shortfall.

The benefits of providing a single self-build home and utilising previously developed land were afforded limited weight despite the housing land supply shortfall, but were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant and enduring harm to character and appearance.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Cheltenham Plan Policy SL1Cheltenham Plan Policy D1Cheltenham Plan Policy L2Cheltenham Plan Policy GB1Joint Core Strategy Policy SD4Joint Core Strategy Policy SD14Joint Core Strategy Policy SD5Joint Core Strategy Policy SD10
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 154

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Cheltenham Borough Council

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

  1. Dismissed4 September 20266008569
    Land On The South Side Of Glenfall Way, Cheltenham, GL52 6XZ
  2. Dismissed12 August 20253361502
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  3. Dismissed26 September 20243341981
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  4. Dismissed13 March 20243327055
    10 Selkirk Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2HH
  5. Allowed14 March 20233308204
    The Hayloft The Reddings, Cheltenham, GL51 6RL

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.