®Planning appeal decision
16 Wakefield Gardens, Cranbrook, Ilford, IG1 3SJ
Planning appeal 6004750 at 16 Wakefield Gardens, Cranbrook, Ilford, IG1 3SJ (London Borough of Redbridge) was dismissed on 17 April 2026 by Inspector Whitfield H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the supply of family-sized housing in the Borough.
the change of use from a single dwelling house into a small HMO for up to six people. Associated cycle and car parking (Retrospective)
- Authority
- London Borough of Redbridge
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Whitfield H
- Postcode
- IG1 3SJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on the supply of family-sized housing in the Borough
- whether the development would provide acceptable living conditions for all future occupants with regard to internal space
What decided it
The loss of a family-sized dwelling for which there is significant identified need, combined with the failure to meet minimum bedroom space standards, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits under the Framework's tilted balance.
The benefits of providing a HMO with six occupants and contributing to housing supply were limited because the site was already in residential use and would not add numerically to the housing stock; these limited benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harm of losing a family-sized dwelling and failing to provide acceptable living conditions, contrary to Framework expectations for housing needs and amenity standards.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy LP5Policy LP26Policy LP29Policy D6 of the London Plan (2021)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 135
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 Redbridge
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Quashed On Legal Grounds29 September 20263372674Land at 112 Highbury Gardens , Seven King , Ilford , IG3 8AA
- Allowed25 September 20266013032289 Roding Lane North, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8LH
- Dismissed25 September 202633619992A Hall Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, RM6 4LH
- Allowed25 September 2026336022938, Hertford Road, Newbury Park, Ilford, IG2 7HF
- Notice varied and upheld23 September 2026336944412 Westrow Gardens, Ilford, IG3 9NE
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.