The Old Hall, North Waltham, BASINGSTOKE, RG25 2BD

Erection of 6No. dwellings, together with provision of associated parking and landscaping and creation of new access onto Popham Lane

Authority: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Chandler M

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
the character and appearance of the area
local biodiversity

What decided it

The likely significant adverse effect on the integrity of the Solent SPA and SAC from increased wastewater drainage, with no certainty of mitigation delivery, provided a clear reason for refusal under NPPF paragraph 11 footnote 7 that overrode the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The presumption in favour of sustainable development was engaged due to the Council's inability to demonstrate five-year housing land supply, but the clear reason for refusal provided by habitat protection policies in the Framework outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and economic contribution.

Framework references: 11, 174, 202

Plan policies cited: Policy EM6, Policy EM1, Policy EM10, Policy EM4

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.