Latest news with #planningappeal
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Google Earth images used as evidence to reject planning appeal
A planning appeal has been thrown out after Google Earth satellite images were used to disprove claims by the company making the application. RCR Limited said the former gasworks site they had taken over in Innerleithen about three years ago had been used as storage for more than 30 this year, their plan to turn the gasholder site into a storage yard was rejected by the Scottish Borders Council, a decision which they appealed for the Scottish government to appeal has now been rejected after the Google Earth images from 2007, 2014 and 2022 showed no sign of storage on the land. RCR Limited bought the site from gas distribution company SGN on 2 November 2022. Their plans to turn the site into an "excellent storage space" was dismissed by the council on the grounds of a flood risk. The company appealed against this decision, claiming the site had been used as a storage area by the previous said SGN and other suppliers had used the Princes Street space to store waste, signs, barriers and other said that turning the site into a storage yard was just a continuation of what had gone on before. However, in documents related to application, SGN said: "While the site may have been used by the local depot as a storage area, officially, the site was classified as vacant with access for maintenance purposes only."SGN said that it would be an overstatement to say the site was used for storage. 'Heavily overgrown' In his appeal decision notice, the planning reporter appointed by Scottish ministers, Malcolm Mahony, said aerial imagery from Google Earth in July 2022, showed the site as overgrown, with blocks at the images from 2007, 2014 and 2022 do not show reasonable evidence of storage use, he containers only appear in the Google Earth search in the year three years before that, the satellite images show trees and greenery around the site area. Locals from the nearby small town in Tweeddale had also disagreed with RCR's storage claims. In a written letter to the Scottish government planning appeal, Aileen Logan who has lived near the site for about 45 years, said: "At that time there was a working gasometer on the site."This was subsequently removed and the site was locked up and abandoned becoming heavily overgrown.""At no time did the Gas Board use this site for storage."She said the street leading to the site is extremely narrow and would be unsuitable for works traffic. Ross McGinn, who has lived near the site for more than 30 years and is part of Innerleithen Community Trust, said that RCR's claims were "totally false".After reviewing the evidence, Mr Mahony said that on the balance of probability there was insufficient evidence of continuous use throughout the 10 year period required and the appeal fails.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thrapston solar farm rejection appeal dismissed
An appeal into the rejection of plans for a major solar farm has been dismissed by the Planning proposed facility at land south of Wood Lodge Farm near Thrapston would have covered 145 acres (59 hectares) alongside the appeal was lodged after North Northamptonshire Council turned down the plans in October 2024, against the advice of its planning the government's Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeal saying it would have a "significant effect" on the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area. The applicant said the development was designed to generate enough power for up to 15,000 group Staunch, which fought against the appeal, said it was an "exceptional effort" to have it said in a social media post it would "continue to object to developments that are inappropriate for the location but, likewise, support sensibly sorted renewable energy that will be needed to support future".In the Planning Inspectorate's report following the appeal hearing it said it would "lead to the loss of foraging habitat for sufficient numbers of qualifying species" within the Special Protection Area (SPA).Planning inspector Philip Major said "the need for renewable energy is accepted and is of significant weight" but added issues with the SPA and the lack of mitigation meant the appeal was developer had been contacted for comment. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stockton home plans uncertainty after new flood map
A new flood map has thrown plans for 265 homes into uncertainty.A five-day planning appeal was set to begin at the end of July into Keepmoat Homes and Banks Property's plan for a new estate at Bowesfield Lane and Cygnet Drive in Council rejected the scheme in September following dozens of objections from local inspector Philip Ware said the appeal hearing would now almost certainly be delayed as the applicants were seeking to change their plan in the light of a new flood map issued by the Environment Agency. 'Flood zone fears' Stockton Council said "putting the appeal on pause" for a redesign was not appropriate as the changes could alter parts of the plans which had lead to the Hall, representing the council, said the developers would not submit a revised plan until after September, adding: "The outcome of the revised flood risk mapping, implications for the scheme and therefore implications for the appeal are all uncertain."Councillors had said the "cramped" development would make residents' lives a misery, with the proposals receiving 45 objections over traffic and harm to and Ingleby Barwick resident Alison Ketch, 57, said there was no infrastructure, transport or parking services."It's a flood zone," she have maintained the site had very good public transport access and the plan would not impact on the nearby nature reserve. Redesign implications An updated scheme proposed the removal of eight plots, changes to seven and adding more green space. It also suggested postponing the appeal to later in the year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Group, agent for the developers, said the site could not deliver affordable housing and an assessment was "necessary".Mr Ware said he would either set a new timetable or urge for the appeal to be "withdrawn, redesigned and resubmitted to the council".He said: "The unknown changes to the proposal could have implications for layout, flooding and viability – there are also a number of timescale uncertainties. "All this could result in a significantly different proposal." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Travellers lose planning appeal to stay on West Sussex land
The owners of a piece of land who developed it without permission for residential use by a traveller family have lost a planning static and two touring caravans were moved onto Staalcot Farm in North Heath, West Sussex, in January despite planning permission being refused by Horsham District local authority had said the plans proposed by developers from the traveller community would be "harmful to the rural character of the countryside location", and it issued an enforcement notice.A planning inspector agreed with the council that the plans would have an adverse impact on the area, but suggested a "smaller, well-designed proposal" could be more suitable for the land. Lack of sites for travellers Co-owners of the site, Tony Castle, William Hughes and Benjamin Keet laid hardstanding and waste tanks on the site near Pulborough, then moved caravans in on 18 January, in which Mr Keet and his family are currently were called to intervene after clashes between the travellers and local residents, but no further action was District Council served an enforcement notice ordering them to remove the caravans and return the land to how it was before they moved in within six landowners appealed against the order, claiming the site was well screened and not visible from the road or other properties. They also said there were no alternative places for the family to plans were for four pitches, each comprising a mobile home, a touring caravan, a day room and a bike/refuse store. Family told to leave caravan site appeal to stay Following a one-day hearing in June, planning inspector Elizabeth Pleasant dismissed the appeal against the enforcement notice and the planning permission refusal. She said that "harm arises due to the scale and design of the proposed development in a rural landscape and adjoining a public right of way."But Ms Pleasant added that the council's "absence of a five-year supply of deliverable travellers' sites carries significant weight in favour of the appeal"."It would be in the best interests of the children on the site to allow the appeal, and this factor together with the lack of alternative accommodation carries substantial weight," she she concluded: "The adverse impacts I have identified of granting planning permission significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits." Ms Pleasant has given Mr Keet longer to vacate the site saying "a period of 6 months as set out in the enforcement notice is not a reasonable period for the site occupiers to find a new home".She also suggested a more suitable planning application could be considered in future."A smaller, well-designed proposal for the land may have a less harmful impact on the character and appearance of the area, and a longer period of time may give the appellant an opportunity to explore an alternative scheme," she District Council said: "We cannot comment yet as we need to consider in more detail the content of the decision report before we consider next steps."
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Appeal lodged over 155-home development in Littlethorpe
A developer has launched an appeal against a council's decision to refuse plans for a 155-home development in a Developments Ltd has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate after Blaby District Council turned down proposals in February for the housing scheme on land off Oak Road in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire.A decision notice issued by the council labelled the plans an "unwarranted intrusion of urban development" and said they would cause "demonstrable harm" to the character of the appeal documents said the proposed scheme would make a "valuable contribution to the vitality" of Littlethorpe. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said councillors refused an outline planning application, which sought to secure permission in principle to build the homes, even though planning officers recommended approval. If approved, the proposed development would include 116 houses at market price and 39 properties classed as a letter seen by the LDRS, Blaby District Council said the appeal would be heard by the Planning Inspectorate on 16 September and is scheduled to last four days.
