land south of barnham station, Barnham, PO22 0ER

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site represents a suitable location for residential development, having regard to development plan policies and the existing and planned settlement pattern
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect on the setting of listed buildings and the Barnham Church Lane Conservation Area
• Whether the proposal makes appropriate and safe provision for linkages to local facilities or whether it would result in an over-reliance on the private car
• Whether the site can be successfully drained, in respect of both foul and surface water drainage
• Whether the proposal would make appropriate provision for affordable housing and other infrastructure
• Whether there are any material considerations, including the housing land supply position, that would indicate a decision otherwise in accordance with the development plan

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land (assessed at 2.63 years), which engaged the tilted balance and meant the substantial benefits of housing delivery outweighed the identified harms.

The substantial benefits of housing and affordable housing delivery, together with biodiversity net gain, public open space, and rail safety improvements, were found to outweigh the harm from conflict with development plan housing-location policies, localised character and appearance harm, and less-than-substantial harm to the conservation area's setting, such that the tilted balance favoured allowing the appeal.