Land and premises known as One Acre Stables, Brockford Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5SG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the countryside location.
• The effect of the development upon the setting of nearby listed buildings
• Whether the development would comply with planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding.
• Whether the appeal site is situated within a sustainable location.
• whether there are any other considerations to outweigh any harm identified.

What decided it

The lack of any available alternative gypsy and traveller sites combined with the appellants' personal circumstances and unmet need was sufficient to outweigh the identified harms, but only to justify a temporary, personal permission rather than a permanent one.

The significant harm to character and appearance and very significant flood risk harm, together with lesser sustainability/highway concerns, were weighed against the significant need for pitches, the lack of alternative sites and the appellants' personal circumstances; the balance did not favour a permanent permission but tipped in favour of a temporary, personal permission for three years.