STAT Planning has secured unanimous approval from Newark and Sherwood District Council for a Stage 1 Permission in Principle (PiP) application for a new residential dwelling in Walesby.
The application presented a number of interesting planning considerations, with the site located outside the main built-up area of the village and within the open countryside, resulting in a conflict with Policy DM8 of the Newark and Sherwood Local Development Plan.
Early planning advice and pre-application engagement played an important role in progressing the proposal. By engaging with the planning team at an early stage, STAT Planning was able to understand the key issues, shape the proposal and develop a robust planning strategy ahead of submitting the application.
A further important consideration was Newark and Sherwood District Council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, meaning that the NPPF’s tilted balance was engaged. This was key to assessing whether the benefits of delivering an additional home outweighed the identified policy conflict.
STAT Planning presented a robust case demonstrating that the proposal represented an appropriate form of development in the context of the site and its surroundings. Following a positive Officer recommendation, the Planning Committee unanimously resolved to grant Permission in Principle.
The approval demonstrates why development opportunities should not necessarily be dismissed simply because a site lies outside a settlement or presents an apparent conflict with adopted planning policy. Early engagement, a clear understanding of the planning balance and a well-considered strategy can all play an important role in unlocking the potential of a site.
STAT Planning now looks forward to progressing the Stage 2 application and taking the next step towards the delivery of the new home.
If you have a site and are unsure of its planning potential, contact the STAT Planning team to discuss how early planning advice could help identify the opportunities and constraints before an application is submitted.