Romans Farm, Mill Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8PZ

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 character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the proposal, including the car parking provision, on highway and pedestrian safety
• whether sufficient information has been provided to establish the effect of the proposal on protected species with particular regard to bats and great crested newts
• the effect of the proposal on flood risk
• whether the proposal would be likely to have a significant effect or an adverse effect, alone or in combination, on the Essex Coast Special Protection Areas or, if necessary, provide satisfactory mitigation

What decided it

The cumulative weight of policy conflicts across sustainability, character, highway safety, protected species, flood risk and Special Protection Areas, combined with the limited housing contribution, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.

The benefits of providing seven additional housing units and the modest shortfall in five-year housing land supply (4.9 years) were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the adverse impacts of the proposal on sustainable location, character and appearance, highway safety, protected species, flood risk and Special Protection Areas; the tilted balance did not apply due to flood risk being a protected area of particular importance.