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Dismissed19 June 20266004831

9 Common Lane, Sundon, LU3 3PF

Planning appeal 6004831 at 9 Common Lane, Sundon, LU3 3PF (Central Bedfordshire Council) was dismissed on 19 June 2026 by Inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to paragraph 155 of the NPPF and any relevant development plan policies.

demolition of existing structures and the erection of 9 residential dwellings with associated access, parking, and landscaping and ancillary works

Authority
Central Bedfordshire Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge
Postcode
LU3 3PF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to paragraph 155 of the NPPF and any relevant development plan policies
  • the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
  • the effect of the proposal on highway safety and parking
  • 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 proposal fails to meet NPPF paragraph 155(c) as it would not be in a sustainable location, rendering it inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and the harms to openness and character are not clearly outweighed by the benefits of housing delivery.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and significant harm to openness and character was not clearly outweighed by moderate weight afforded to housing delivery and other social, economic and environmental benefits, so very special circumstances do not exist.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SP4Policy HQ1Policy HQ8Policy T2Policy T3Policy EE12
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 142Paragraph 143Paragraph 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 applied

The decision letter

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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.

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.