Decision to reject Catherine Road Green Belt development upheld

The proposal sought the demolition of existing stables and the construction of nine single-storey homes, and was refused by the Council’s Development Management Committee in April 2025 for reasons, including:

•    Harm to the Green Belt
•    Lack of dwelling mix
•    Insufficient ecology and landscape details
•    Poor access 
•    Harm to identified habitat sites

In reaching their decision, the Inspector agreed with the Council that the site should be treated as “major development” because it measures more than 0.5 hectares, and that the appellant did not provide the legal evidence required to support claims that parts of the site should be deducted due to alleged encroachment.

The Inspector found the proposal to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, concluding that it did not fall within the limited exceptions allowed and that it would cause substantial harm to Green Belt openness by replacing discreet, limited built form with nine dwellings that would visually dominate the plot and erode the area’s open character. The decision also noted that, as a major Green Belt housing proposal, the scheme did not provide the 50% affordable housing contribution required under the ‘Golden Rules’. 

The decision confirms the Council’s position that the proposal was inappropriate development in the Green Belt, would cause substantial harm to openness, and was not justified by the “very special circumstances” needed to outweigh that harm.

Alongside the Green Belt impacts, the Inspector upheld several additional concerns. These included conflicts with local policies on character and housing mix, an inadequate transport impact assessment and internal layout for safe movement and servicing, and insufficiently robust evidence to justify removing mature trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order. The Inspector also found that the scheme failed to demonstrate that biodiversity impacts had been properly addressed.

Cllr Tim Copsey,  Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “This is excellent news for residents and for the long-term protection of our Green Belt. This outcome highlights the Council’s firm position that the Green Belt must be robustly protected and that speculative or harmful development on the Green Belt will not be supported.

“We will continue to take well reasoned and justified planning decisions that protect our valued landscapes, while supporting appropriate development in the right places.”

View the full appeal decision.