- Decision
- dismissed, 28 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: H Whitfield
- Authority
- Bromley (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6009412
- Application reference
- 26/01029/NOT
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Class MA prior approval to change a commercial storage extension into additional rooms for the adjoining flat
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- No Framework version cited
- Determinative policies
- GPDO Sch2 Pt3 Class MA
- Main issues
- scope of Class MA
Summary
An attempt to use Class MA to absorb a commercial side extension into an existing flat was dismissed. Class MA grants rights to create new dwellinghouses, not to enlarge existing ones (DL ¶14-17). The Framework is not cited.
What made the difference
No new dwelling would be created. The inspector followed a 2024 appeal reading of the 2021 Explanatory Memorandum (DL ¶13-15).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPDO Sch2 Pt3 Class MA | not-engaged | Class MA covers creating new dwellinghouses, not enlarging an existing one (DL 11-17, following APP/U5360/W/23/3328874) |
Key facts
- Appellant had been advised by enforcement officers to submit a retrospective planning application instead (DL 16)
- Framework not cited
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.