Land at End of Bishops Drive, East Harnham, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8NZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site offers an acceptable location for the proposed development having regard to national and local planning policy
• The effects of the proposed development on protected trees and ecology
• Whether the living conditions of future occupiers would be adequately safeguarded from noise
• Whether the proposed development would secure acceptable foul and surface water provision
• Whether the proposed development would provide adequate provision for affordable housing and other infrastructure
• The effects of the proposed development on European protected wildlife sites and sensitive river catchments

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the area through loss of protected trees, combined with unresolved ecological survey deficiencies and the absence of a legal mechanism to secure affordable housing and infrastructure contributions, outweighed the benefits of housing delivery under the tilted balance.

The benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing provision and local economic support were outweighed by the significant adverse impacts on the landscape character through tree loss and the serious omission of protected species surveys, when assessed against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole.