Green Belt Office Development Approved by Epping Forest
Planning permission from Epping Forest District Council for two office buildings in the Metropolitan Green Belt, using detailed planning history analysis to justify the new build.
PLANNING APPROVALSESSEXGREEN BELT APPROVALSEPPING
Andrew Ransome
7/22/20262 min read
In 2024, Epping Forest District Council approved planning permission for two office buildings in the Metropolitan Green Belt near Epping: the conversion of an existing retail unit to Class E(g)(i) office use, and the erection of a new standalone office building.
The new building required careful justification in Green Belt policy terms.
I used a detailed analysis of the site's planning history to demonstrate that the footprint and mass of the new office was appropriate and acceptable as appropriate development at this location.
Office Development Approved in the Green Belt
I secured planning permission from Epping Forest District Council for a two-building office development in the Metropolitan Green Belt near Epping, Essex.
The approved scheme comprised two elements: the conversion of an existing retail building to Class E(g)(i) office use, and the construction of an additional new office building alongside it.
The conversion element was relatively straightforward. Both the existing retail use and the proposed office use fall within Class E of the Use Classes Order, meaning the change of use did not require planning permission in its own right. Only planning permission for any associated external works was needed.
The new office building was the more challenging element.
New buildings in the Green Belt are inappropriate development under the NPPF unless they fall within one of the defined exceptions.
No standard exception clearly applied.
I therefore conducted a detailed analysis of the site's full planning history to identify the most defensible case for the new building.
That analysis identified that the site had a complex history of development, permissions, and changes over time. Working through that history carefully, I was able to demonstrate that the proposed new office would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the development that had historically occupied the site.
Epping Forest District Council accepted the case and granted planning permission.
Planning Application Advice
If you are seeking to develop a commercial building in the Green Belt and need a detailed planning history analysis to support the case, I can provide the research and planning argument needed. Contact me to discuss.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
Planning Approvals in the Green Belt
Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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