Appeal Watch: Permission in Principle Allowed in the Green Belt in Goffs Oak, Broxbourne

This week we received the excellent news that our client’s appeal against the refusal of Broxbourne Borough Council to grant permission in principle for up to four detached dwellings on a site in Goffs Oak had been allowed.

On behalf of our client, we had made the case that the site met the definition of ‘grey belt’ on the basis that the site made no contribution to purposes (a), (b) or (d) of the National Planning Policy Framework. The Council largely accepted this characterisation of the site, and moreover agreed with us that the development of the site would not fundamentally undermine the remaining Green Belt in the authority area, and that there was a need for new housing. However, they refused the application on the basis that they did not consider the location to be sustainable on the basis that safe and suitable access to the site could not be delivered.

Inspector FP Tinsley MA (Hons) MBA MRTPI ultimately agreed with the case put forward on behalf of our client that the site was indeed in a sustainable location, and that technical matters relating to the delivery of the access itself fell to be considered as part of any technical details consent. The appeal was therefore allowed.

The appeal decision reference is APP/W1905/W/25/3366662.

This is another successful grey belt appeal. Please feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss a specific site or development proposal involving grey belt land.