Land between Rudyard Road and Hot Lane, Biddulph Moor

Tier label used

Rural Area Larger Villages

The tier sentence ¶13

“Biddulph Moor is identified as a larger village, under SMLP Policy SS8”

The route sentence ¶19

“Routes to these from the appeal site would be along Rudyard Road and Hot Lane, which have footpaths and street lighting, except for a stretch along Hot Lane, which I saw had no footpath.”

Summary

Permission in principle for up to nine dwellings on a field at the edge of the Green Belt village of Biddulph Moor. The appeal was allowed. The dispute was purpose (a): the inspector held that a "larger village" separate from Biddulph town is not a "large built-up area", so the site is grey belt. All the GB7(1)(g) limbs were met, including sustainable location, despite a short stretch of lane with no footway. The remaining conflict with the local plan's spatial strategy did not substantially outweigh the benefits under S5. A separate costs decision (local copy PINS-6011103-costs.pdf) refused costs.

The location finding

• GB7(1)(g)(iii): pass. services, school, shop, pharmacy, bus stops within walking distance via footways and lighting; a modest stretch of Hot Lane without footway accepted as flat, straight, good visibility (DL 19-20)