Adj Grassmere, Horseman Side, Navestock (self-build dwelling in garden)

Tier label used

settlement hierarchy

The tier sentence ¶18

“the appeal site does not fall within any of the identified settlements within the hierarchy”

Summary

A single dwelling in the garden of a rural house at Navestock, in the Green Belt, was allowed. Because the garden is outside a built-up area it counts as previously developed land, and the moderate harm to openness was below GB7(1)(e)'s "substantial" threshold, so the scheme was not inappropriate. The inspector found occupiers would be largely car-reliant on unlit lanes, but gave the local settlement-hierarchy conflict limited weight because of the supply shortfall, did not treat it as a TR3 conflict, and allowed the appeal under S5(5).

The location finding

• TR3: harm. mapped (TR3 not named) - unlit narrow lanes, no pavements or cycle lanes for much of the route, poor public transport; occupiers largely car-reliant; appellants' local family and business ties discounted as personal (DL 18-23)