- Decision
- dismissed, 17 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: P Eggleton
- Authority
- Havering (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6006409
- Application reference
- P1390.25
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Retrospective change of use of rear garage from storage to motorbike repair and sales workshop
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- No Framework version cited
- Determinative policies
- P3(2)(b)
- Development plan policies
- Havering Local Plan 2021 Policies 7, 34, London Plan 2021 D14
- Main issues
- character; neighbour noise; amenity space
Summary
A motorbike repair and sales use in a backyard garage next to residential gardens was dismissed. Without a noise assessment, harm to neighbours could not be ruled out, even though no neighbour had objected. There was no harm to character on a commercial-feeling lane. The letter is dated 17 Aug and names no Framework version.
What made the difference
The absence of any acoustic evidence. The Inspector said conditions on hours could not be relied on without it (DL ¶¶10, 18).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| P3(2)(b) | fail | Framework not cited by code; no noise assessment, garage door beside neighbour's garden; harm not ruled out (DL 7-15) | |
| L2(1)(b) | benefit | efficient use of existing building and economic activity acknowledged but insufficient (DL 17-18) |
Key facts
- Up to ten customer appointments a day; repair plus sales = sui generis
- No neighbour objections, but no noise evidence
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.