| Conditions or Reasons for Planning Application - CB/23/03094/OUT |
| Conditions or Reasons: | | 1)
The proposed development is unacceptable in principle as it represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which is by definition harmful and would cause harm to its openness due to its scale and position. The proposal would represent encroachment into the countryside, in conflict with one of the five purposes of the Green Belt. No material considerations have been identified that clearly outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt and any other harm. Consequently 'very special circumstances' do not exist, and the development is contrary to the aims and objectives of Section 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy SP4 Central Bedfordshire Local Plan. |
| 2)
The development would result in the encroachment of the built form of Eaton Bray into the open countryside, and would therefore cause harm to character and appearance of the area, and would conflict with Policies EE5 and HQ1 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. |
| 3)
The existing site is private rural shrubland, which makes a positive contribution to biodiversity. The proposed development would result in the loss of a large parcel of undeveloped land considered to form open countryside. Due to a lack of information provided with the application, the proposed development has not demonstrated there will be a net gain in biodiversity. As such, the proposal conflicts with Policy EE2 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. |
| 4)
The proposed development would, by reason of its proximity lying within a 12.6km distance of the Ashridge Commons and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC), add to the recreational disturbance in this area, and be likely to harm the integrity of the conservation purposes of the SAC. In the absence of an appropriate strategy to mitigate this harm, the proposal would be contrary to the Habitat Regulations, Section 15 (Conserving and enhancing the natural environment) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), July 2021, and Policy EE3 (Nature Conservation) of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 - 2035, July 2021. |
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