Land at Hillborough, Sweechbridge Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 6TE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would provide a sufficient amount and quality of open space.
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the density of the proposed housing.
• Whether the proposal would provide an appropriate amount of affordable housing, having regard to viability considerations.
• Whether the proposed development would include appropriate sustainable infrastructure.
• The effect of the proposed development on the movement of traffic on the local highway network and within the Hillborough strategic site.
• The effect of the proposed development on sites of nature conservation importance.
• Whether the proposed development would be consistent with the Development Plan.

What decided it

The proposal's overall accordance with the development plan, particularly its delivery of the strategic Policy SP3 allocation and the critical Herne Relief Road funding under Policy T13, outweighed the limited harms identified.

Significant weight to housing delivery and the Herne Relief Road/highway contribution, together with moderate weight to economic benefits and limited weight to affordable housing, outweighed the limited weight harms from loss of open land/best and most versatile agricultural land and the limited traffic harm from the Sweechbridge Road shuttle signal option, tipping the balance in favour of granting permission in accordance with the development plan.