Outline planning permission was achieved for seven new dwellings on a greenfield site on the edge of a Dorset town on land formally designated as an Important Open Wooded Area (IOWA).
Our clients had owned the land for several generations and they had consistently been told by the Local Planning Authority that it was not suitable for development.
Subsequently, we visited the site and reviewed the policy context. From this assessment, we formed the view early on that the site did have development potential. We were confident that we could demonstrate that the IOWA policy designation in the 2003 Local Plan was out-of-date and that the impact of a carefully designed scheme would not harm the key characteristics of the local area. We achieved a successful outcome here.
Our approach was comprehensive and meticulous. We assembled a project team, drawing on the expertise of specialists in ecology, arboriculture, highways, and drainage issues. Our in-house team of architects prepared the supporting plans, demonstrating how the site could be successfully developed. This comprehensive approach ensured we were well-equipped to handle the site's planning issues.
The application was submitted and following careful negotiations with the Planning Officer, we gained a recommendation for approval. Still, regrettably, local opposition led to the application being refused by the Planning Committee.
Despite this setback, we remained convinced we had a robust case and immediately lodged a planning appeal. The Planning Inspector agreed that the development was acceptable and granted outline planning permission.
