®Planning appeal decision
Lodge Farm, Epping Green, SG13 8NQ
Planning appeal 6004510 at Lodge Farm, Epping Green, SG13 8NQ (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 17 June 2026 by Inspector F. Bradley, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development with reference to whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies with particular regard to openness and the site's location.
the “Application for permission in principle for one to nine dwellinghouses
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- F. Bradley
- Postcode
- SG13 8NQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development with reference to whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies with particular regard to openness and the site's location
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal comprises inappropriate development in the Green Belt which would harm its openness, and the site is not in a sustainable location, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.
the moderate weight of benefits (housing supply contribution, use of previously developed land, economic benefits) did not clearly outweigh the substantial weight given to Green Belt harm and the significant weight given to character and appearance harm and unsustainable location
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GBR1Policy DPS2Policy VILL3Policy TRA1Policy DES4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 135Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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
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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.