Ribble Valley mansion approved at appeal
Plans from tissue paper mogul Mozam Hussain for a six-bedroom house with a pool and cinema have been given the green light by the Planning Inspectorate after the local council had rejected the proposals.
Ribble Valley Council took a dim view of Hussain’s plans to build a detached house on 14 acres of Green Belt off Further Lane on the edge of the Woodfold Park estate.
The authority found six reasons to refuse the permission for the Shaw & Jagger-designed mansion, including its impact on the Green Belt, open space, nearby historic buildings, the quality of the design and the suitability of the location.
However, the Planning Inspectorate disagreed with all of them, finding that very special circumstances did in fact exist to justify development in the Green Belt on its way to overturning Ribble Valley’s rejection.
Read the inspector’s report in full
The site is currently occupied by an equestrian centre, which would be cleared to make way for the country house.
While the council had argued the house would be harmful to the Green Belt, the planning inspector said Hussain’s plans would actually “increase in both the visual and spatial openness of the Green Belt”, compared to what is on the site currently.
The inspector added that “change is not analogous with harm” and that there was “no compelling evidence” to suggest the scheme would be harmful to the area.
Mozam Hussain made his fortune as the co-owner of Accrol Papers, which was acquired by Navigator for £131m earlier this year.
“change is not analogous with harm” – this should be stenciled in big letters on all planning department walls.
By Anonymous
Another loss of our green belt
By Look at the mess
I understood that building on Green Belt would only be approved if local residents were in favour of it.
This is clearly not the case in this instant.
By Anonymous
There are exceptions to the rule, the fact the development replaces an existing use and provides a distinctive design is also welcomed by the planning regime. Unfortunately planners tend to use a broad brush for the countryside
By 7ish
Who was the planning inspectorate who gave permission
By Anonymous
change is not analogous with harm” I don’t hope that planners in the future see this . This build will be magnificent and will improve what it replaces. Greenbelt or not it’s going to replace and improve what’s already built on the land. So pleased for the landowner . Change = Progress.
By Anonymous