- Decision
- allowed, 8 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: J D Westbrook
- Authority
- Bradford (Yorkshire and the Humber)
- Appeal reference
- 6012648
- Application reference
- 26/01097/HOU
- Procedure
- householder
- Development
- Raised decking (reduced, part-retrospective) to a converted barn dwelling
- Site context
- green belt, open countryside
- Green Belt
- Yes
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- DP3, GB7(1)(b)
- Development plan policies
- Bradford Core Strategy DS1, Householder SPD
- Main issues
- character and appearance
Summary
Raised decking to a converted barn in the Bradford Green Belt. Refused on character; allowed because removing the modesty panels makes it unobtrusive. Green Belt was incidental: the extension was accepted as not disproportionate, so not inappropriate.
Issues and findings
- Character: PASS. "The overall appearance of the decking, without the composite modesty panels, would be light and unobtrusive" (DL ¶8).
- Green Belt (Other Matters). "the Council accepts that the proposed extension would not result in a disproportionate addition … I concur with that view … the proposal would not be inappropriate development in the Green Belt" (DL ¶10).
Planning balance
No balance was needed: no harm on the main issue and not inappropriate.
What made the difference
Detailing: open sides and slim railings instead of solid panels.
Transferable points
- Raised decking is assessed as an extension under the GB7(1)(b) proportionality test (DL ¶10).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7(1)(b) | pass | Council accepted, and inspector concurred, that it is not a disproportionate addition; not a refusal reason (DL 10) | |
| DP3 | pass | removing composite modesty panels makes the decking "light and unobtrusive" (DL 8-9) |
Key facts
- About 4 m x 5 m decking, 1-1.4 m above ground on a sloping site, with slim metal railings
- Green Belt was not a refusal reason
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.