Planning appeal decision
Land South of Lower Road, Stalbridge , Dorset
Planning appeal 3265743 at Land South of Lower Road, Stalbridge , Dorset (Dorset) was allowed on 12 November 2021 by Inspector Aston R, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable site for housing, having regard to local planning policies that seek to manage the location of new development, access to services and facilities and accessibility by a range of modes of transport.
outline planning application for the erection of up to 114 dwellings, up to 2,000 sqm of employment space (use class b1, with up to one use class a1 unit), vehicular access points and associated works
- Authority
- Dorset
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Aston R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable site for housing, having regard to local planning policies that seek to manage the location of new development, access to services and facilities and accessibility by a range of modes of transport.
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal site and area.
- If harm and conflict with the development plan is identified, whether this would be outweighed by other material considerations.
What decided it
The significant benefit of boosting housing and affordable housing supply in the context of a 3.3-year housing land supply outweighed the moderate harm and policy conflicts identified, tipping the tilted balance in favour of the proposal.
The moderate harm to character and appearance and conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy was outweighed by the significant benefits of market and affordable housing delivery, together with modest economic, biodiversity and connectivity benefits, so that the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 2Policy 3Policy 6Policy H6Policy 7Policy 11Policy 15Policy 20Policy 24
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 9Paragraph 11
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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