Unlocking a 40-Year Planning Challenge: Permission Secured in Weston
A strategic, evidence-led planning approach that delivered approval where four decades of previous applications had failed.
🏡 Success in Weston: Unlocking a challenging site
Planning permission has been secured for two new homes in Weston, Newark, culminating a decades-long struggle for the landowner. This success is the result of a targeted and evidence-led strategy applied to a site with refusals stretching back forty years.
Prior to our involvement the site had a history of multiple unsuccessful attempts and a dismissed appeal since the first application in 1984. Approached by the client in 2024, Fytche-Taylor Planning was tasked with unlocking this challenging site where others had failed.
Through detailed analysis, we identified the fundamental, previously overlooked opportunity: the land sits within the established village, contained by development on three sides, and reads as part of the built-up area. Building on this, we developed a clear strategy that addressed historic concerns and presented a robust, policy-aligned case for the new housing.
From repeated refusals to a clear way forward
The site at Lodge Farm had one of the most challenging local planning histories we have worked with. Earlier schemes failed to establish the site’s relationship with the village or address heritage, landscape and tree-related concerns.
A pivotal moment came in 2024 when the Planning Inspector concluded that the land is within the village and surrounded by development on three sides. This finding became the cornerstone of our strategy.
Key Facts & Highlights
40-year planning history with refusals in 1984, 2000 and 2023
Recent appeal confirmed the site was suitable in principle
Strategy refined from four dwellings down to two to reflect context
All TPO trees retained and integrated into design
Layout redesigned to avoid previous suburbanising concerns
Technical evidence strengthened: design, trees, drainage, BNG
Successful approval achieved on a site previously considered “undeliverable”
Our In-House Expertise & Multidisciplinary Approach
1. Establishing the principle of development: We used the Inspector’s conclusions to demonstrate that the land forms part of Weston’s built-up area and is suitable for new housing under Spatial Policy 3. This directly addressed decades of uncertainty.
2. Reducing the scale to a policy-compliant scheme: We refined the original layout from four properties down to two, aligning the scheme with:
historic development patterns
the village’s rural character
identified amenity and spacing requirements
tree root protection constraints
3. A design-led, context-driven layout: The final scheme prioritised:
generous spacing between plots
a natural, softened view from Main Street
retention of all boundary trees and hedgerows
materials reflective of local character
4. Strengthening the application with robust technical evidence: We prepared and coordinated:
full Planning Statement
updated arboricultural survey
ecological assessment & BNG plan
drainage and access information
revised layouts and visuals
What we achieved for our client
The Local Planning Authority approved the revised application, recognising:
the site’s suitability for infill development
the improved design and reduced density
the protection of trees and heritage assets
the scheme’s compatibility with surrounding homes
the high quality of the technical evidence presented
For the landowner, this approval concludes a 40-year effort to bring the site forward — achieved through a clear strategy and rigorous planning case.
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