Former Council Depot, Redbridge Lane, Nr Crossways, Dorchester, DT8 8DU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development is in a suitable location for housing, with particular reference to the accessibility of services and facilities and to the reliance on motor vehicles
• Whether the proposed development would represent an efficient use of land with regards to National and Local Planning Policy
• The effect of the proposed development on biodiversity
• Whether the proposed development would be likely to increase the likelihood of flooding in the area

What decided it

The absence of a five-year housing supply triggered the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework, and the significant environmental benefits of the scheme (biodiversity enhancement through removal of hardstanding and mitigation measures) combined with the limited weight attributed to the conflict with the settlement boundary policy meant the benefits were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the harm.

The conflict with Policy SUS2 (limited weight) was outweighed by the cumulative benefits of housing supply (limited weight), economic benefits (limited weight), and significant environmental benefits (biodiversity enhancement and reuse of previously developed land), assessed against the Framework as a whole under the tilted balance.