3 Guardian Road, Norwich, NR5 8PE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The suitability of the site for the proposed development, with regard to its location in an area identified for employment development.
• The effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupiers of 3 Guardian Road (No 3), with particular regard to the amount and quality of private outside space.
• Whether the proposed development would provide for a satisfactory standard of living accommodation for future occupiers of the development, with particular regard to the amount of external garden space and its quality.
• The effect of the proposed development on highway safety.
• The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area, with particular regard to the proposed removal of existing trees and an existing hedgerow.

What decided it

The cumulative effect of conflicts with employment land policies, harm to living conditions, adverse highway safety impacts, and loss of trees and hedgerow character, which together outweighed the limited benefits of a single additional dwelling.

The limited social and economic benefits of providing one additional dwelling and temporary construction employment did not outweigh the harm caused by loss of employment land, reduction of private outside space, highway safety risks, and damage to character and appearance through tree and hedgerow removal.