®Planning appeal decision
5, Downsell Road, Stratford, E15 2Tr
Planning appeal 6007825 at 5, Downsell Road, Stratford, E15 2Tr (Waltham Forest London Borough Council) was dismissed on 31 July 2026 by Inspector L Francis, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the appeal scheme on housing mix within the Borough, with regard to the provision of family sized dwellings.
change of use from a single family dwelling to 2 flats comprising a three-bedroom family unit at ground floor and first floor level and studio within the extended loft space: both units facilitated by a single-storey side and rear extension as well as dormer extension
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- L Francis
- Postcode
- E15 2TR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the appeal scheme on housing mix within the Borough, with regard to the provision of family sized dwellings
- whether the proposal would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers with particular regard to internal space and access to external amenity space
- whether the proposal would make adequate provision through planning obligations in respect of, i) car parking arrangements, ii) sustainable transport, iii) mitigation of effects on the integrity of the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and iv) monitoring of the Construction Logistics Plan (CLP)
What decided it
The lack of external amenity space for the studio flat, which would conflict with Local Plan Policy 56 and provide unsatisfactory living conditions for future occupiers, combined with the conflict with Policy 20A regarding subdivision of a dwelling below 124sqm, outweighed the limited benefits of additional housing on a brownfield site.
The significant harm from lack of external amenity space to Flat 2 and limited weight conflict with Policy 20A were not outweighed by the limited benefits of an additional residential unit on a small brownfield site in an accessible location with modest socio-economic benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 20 of the Waltham Forest Local Plan Part 1 (2024)Policy 20APolicy 20BPolicy 15Policy 16Policy 56Policy 48Policy 66(k)Policy 3Policy 58Policy 60Policy 61Policy 63Policy 65Policy 94London Plan 2021 Policy D4London Plan 2021 Policy T1London Plan 2021 Policy T2London Plan 2021 Policy T3London Plan 2021 Policy T4London Plan 2021 Policy T5London Plan 2021 Policy T7London Plan 2021 Policy T9London Plan Policy H1London Plan Policy H2
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.