Well Cottage, Featherbed Lane, Dunstable, LU5 6JL

Planning appeal 6005254 at Well Cottage, Featherbed Lane, Dunstable, LU5 6JL (Central Bedfordshire) was dismissed on 21 May 2026 by Inspector Bowden N, 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 the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies including the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt.

a new self build replacement dwelling

Authority: Central Bedfordshire
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Bowden N
Postcode: LU5 6JL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies including 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
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 proposed dwelling would be materially larger than the existing building it replaces, causing visual harm to Green Belt openness and failing to meet the exception in paragraph 154(d) of the Framework, and this harm was not outweighed by other considerations including the self-build status.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: SP4DC2HQ1
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 142Paragraph 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.

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The decision letter

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

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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.