®Planning appeal decision
163-187 High St, Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9BB
the development of a retirement care village in use class C2 comprising housing with care, communal health, wellbeing and leisure facilities; and use class C3 affordable dwellings (compromising up to 30% on-site provision), public open space, play provision, landscaping, car parking, access and associated development
- Authority
- East Cambridgeshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Woodwards O
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, in particular the character and setting of Bottisham village and the character and landscape of the surrounding countryside
- the effect of the proposal on healthcare
- whether any harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the 'very special circumstances' required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The Inspector could not be satisfied that no suitable, available and deliverable non-Green Belt alternative sites existed because the appellant's Alternative Sites Assessment was found not to be robust, meaning the substantial benefits did not clearly outweigh the Green Belt and other harm.
The substantial benefits of affordable and extra care housing, general housing supply, employment and biodiversity gains did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt (by reason of inappropriateness and to openness), the significant negative weight given to the deficient Alternative Sites Assessment, and the lesser harms to character, appearance and heritage assets, so very special circumstances did not exist.
Framework references: 149, 137, 138, 142, 144, 148, 174, 79, 60, 62, 81, 120, 202
Plan policies cited: Policy ENV 1, Policy ENV 2, Policy ENV 10, Policy HOU 1, Policy HOU 4, Policy HOU 6, Policy GROWTH 1, Policy GROWTH 2
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.