®Planning appeal decision
Durlston, Grove Road, Lea by Backford, Chester, CH1 6LG
erection of a detached two-storey dwelling as a custom self-build infill development, with associated access
- Authority
- Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Postcode
- CH1 6LG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and 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
- whether the proposal would be an appropriate location for housing having regard to development plan policies regarding accessibility of development
- whether the proposal would be an appropriate location for the proposed development having regard to risk from flooding
- 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 is inappropriate development in the Green Belt that fails to meet the sustainability requirements of paragraph 155(c) of the Framework, and the identified harms to the Green Belt, character and appearance, and flood risk are not clearly outweighed by the benefits of contributing to housing supply, such that no very special circumstances exist to justify approval.
The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt, combined with limited harm to openness, harm to character and appearance, and unresolved flood risk, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight given to contribution to housing land supply and limited weight given to the self-build element, resulting in dismissal.
Framework references: 11, 110, 115, 153, 154, 155, 175
Plan policies cited: Local Plan Part 1 Policy STRAT 1, Local Plan Part 1 Policy STRAT 2, Local Plan Part 1 Policy STRAT 9, Local Plan Part 1 Policy ENV 1, Local Plan Part 1 Policy ENV 6, Local Plan Part 2 Policy DM 3, Local Plan Part 2 Policy DM 19, Local Plan Part 2 Policy DM 40, Local Plan Part 2 Policy R 1
Judgments cited: Julian Wood v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Gravesham Borough Council [2015] EWCA Civ 195; Gladman Developments Limited v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Lancaster City Council [2026] EWHC 51 (Admin)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.