Land West of Tye Lane, Walberton, West Sussex, BN18 0LU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development with reference to the spatial strategy in the development plan
• The effect of the proposed development on the landscape and the character and appearance of the area
• Whether a development of the size proposed could be designed to be of a suitable quality
• Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Walberton Conservation Area and the Walberton Green Conservation Area
• The effect of the proposed development on the setting of the Walberton Conservation Area and the Walberton Green Conservation Area
• The effect of the proposed development on the road network and highway safety

What decided it

The acute shortfall in the Council's five-year housing land supply (2.4 years) elevated the benefits of housing delivery to a level sufficient to outweigh the identified landscape and heritage harms under the paragraph 11 tilted balance.

The high-order benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing, open space and biodiversity gains outweighed the limited to moderate harm to the landscape and to the character, appearance and setting of the conservation areas, such that adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.