Aylesbury Gardens, Newton Road, Swepstone, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 2SH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the disputed conditions are reasonable and necessary having regard to: (i) the extent of the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the district; the personal circumstances of the occupants of the site and any alternatives available to them; and the measures in place to address any general shortfall or personal needs
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the occupants of the site would have reasonable access to a range of services and facilities or public transport
• The effect of the proposal on the River Mease Special Area of Conservation
• Whether the general or personal need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation would outweigh any identified harmful effects of the development which could not be met by planning conditions to secure appropriate mitigation

What decided it

The Inspector's conclusion that the identified harm to character and appearance could be adequately offset through conditions securing a revised landscaping and site layout scheme, rendering the proposal compliant with the development plan as a whole.

The proposal was found to accord with the development plan taken as a whole once mitigation was secured by condition, with the substantial weight attaching to unmet Gypsy and Traveller need reinforcing that conclusion rather than being determinative.