# Land at Moorhouse Lane, Oxenhope

- **Decision:** dismissed, 15 September 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: Chris Mayes
- **Authority:** Bradford (Yorkshire and the Humber)
- **Appeal reference:** 6008465
- **Application reference:** 25/03766/PIP
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Permission in principle for up to 9 dwellings
- **Homes:** 9
- **Site context:** green-belt, settlement-edge
- **Green Belt:** yes (grey belt not-argued)
- **Framework applied:** August 2026 NPPF
- **Determinative policies:** N6
- **Development plan policies:** Bradford Core Strategy 2017 SC8, South Pennine Moors SPA/SAC Planning Framework SPD 2022
- **Main issues:** habitats (SPA/SAC supporting habitat), Green Belt
- **Tags:** tier-2, PIP, habitats-regs, parties-consulted-on-2026-framework, costs-application

## Summary
A PiP for up to nine dwellings near the South Pennine Moors was dismissed. Likely significant effects on SPA supporting habitat could not be excluded, which makes it "habitats development" for which PiP cannot be granted (DL ¶19, 22). The Green Belt issue was left undecided (DL ¶20).

## What made the difference
The PEA itself recorded rushy pasture, which the SPD lists as a supporting-habitat indicator. A PEA conclusion of "unsuitable habitat" was not enough to meet the beyond-reasonable-scientific-doubt standard. Because PiP has no appropriate-assessment stage, this bar is absolute for PiP near European sites.

## Policy findings
- **N6: fail.** code mapped by harvester — within Zones B and C of South Pennine Moors SPA/SAC; PEA found rushy pasture on and next to site; likely significant effects not excluded "beyond reasonable scientific doubt", so it is habitats development under PiP Order Art 5B and PiP "must not be granted" (DL 14-19, 22)
- **GB6: neutral.** Green Belt issue (inappropriateness, sustainable location) left undecided (DL 20)

## Key facts
- Parts of site beyond 25m of settlement boundary and main road, so not screened out under SPD (DL 14)
- PEA identifies pasture and rushy pasture, SPD indicators of supporting habitat (DL 16)
- Parties consulted on 2026 Framework (DL 3)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6008465
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/c2f3af97-354d-433c-853c-a2046985b73c

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6008465.html

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