Land to the East of Shripney Road, Shripney, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9NW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would accord with the Council's strategy for residential development
• The accessibility of the site, with particular regard to services and facilities
• The effect upon the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the proposal would result in unacceptable flood risks, with particular regard to climate change
• The effect upon agricultural land

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, which the substantial housing benefits (including affordable housing) outweighed the limited identified harms under.

The limited harm to character and appearance, the limited harm from loss of agricultural land, and conflict with the development plan's settlement strategy were outweighed by the substantial social benefits of housing delivery (including affordable housing) and moderate economic, social, open space and highway benefits, such that the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.