Green Belt Dwelling Allowed on Appeal in Basildon

In 2025, I secured a successful planning appeal against Basildon Council for a new residential dwelling, located within the Metropolitan Green Belt.

The proposal involved removing an existing caravan and motorhome storage area and erecting a single dwelling in its place.

The Council had refused the application, raising concerns about inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the effect on the character and appearance of the area.

The key planning issue was whether the site constituted previously developed land and whether the proposal would increase or reduce the openness of the Green Belt.

As planning consultant, I built a case demonstrating that the hardstanding and open storage use across the site created a high degree of visual intrusion into the landscape, as confirmed by the Inspector at their site visit.

I argued that the proposed replacement of the storage use with a modest single-storey dwelling, alongside a larger semi-natural green space, would significantly increase openness.

The Inspector agreed, finding that the development satisfied the exception at paragraph 154(g) of the NPPF for the redevelopment of previously developed land.

The Inspector also found no harm to the character and appearance of the area, noting the dwelling would sit comfortably within its landscaped setting.

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply provided additional support for the appeal.

Planning Appeal Advice

If you have a development project and you have received a planning refusal, contact me for practical advice on whether an appeal is the right option and how to proceed.

Andrew Ransome MRTPI Email: andrew@adpltd.co.uk | Tel: 01206 242070

About me

Andrew Ransome is the planning director at ADP and is a chartered member of the RTPI, with over 22 years of town planning experience.

Andrew has extensive experience offering strategic planning solutions to challenging projects in both rural and urban settings. Follow him on Linkedin.

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