14 Southminster Road, Tillingham, Essex, CM0 7UF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be suitably and sustainably located having regard to development plan and national policies
• the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of 18 Southfields with particular regard to outlook
• the effect of the amount of car parking proposed on highway and pedestrian safety
• the effect of the proposal on the protected cedar and horse chestnut trees at the site
• whether the proposal would be likely to have a significant effect, alone or in combination, on Essex Coast Special Protection Areas or, if necessary, provide satisfactory mitigation

What decided it

The significant weight of policy conflict across multiple matters, particularly the oppressive effect on neighbouring living conditions and inadequate parking provision, outweighed the limited contribution to housing supply where the five-year shortfall was only modest.

The need to boost housing supply, particularly where there is a shortfall, carried considerable weight, but the eight additional units proposed would make a limited contribution to the housing supply needs of the District; the adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework as a whole.