St. Leonards Road, Nazeing, WALTHAM ABBEY, EN9 2HQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the development proposed would provide appropriate accessibility for disabled residents
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular regard to whether it would make adequate provision for car parking
• whether the proposal would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers, with particular regard to external amenity space and privacy
• whether the appeal site would be in a suitable location for the development proposed with particular regard to access to services, facilities and sustainable transport options

What decided it

The proposal would not secure disabled housing provision in perpetuity, would not provide adequate car parking to highway standards, and would not provide satisfactory living conditions due to lack of private amenity space and privacy, and these adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh any benefits even if a 5-year housing land supply could not be demonstrated.

Even applying the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii), the adverse impacts of inadequate disabled housing provision, insufficient car parking detrimental to highway safety, and unsatisfactory living conditions would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited benefits of additional housing units and modest economic benefits, particularly given that the site already benefits from planning permission for the same quantum of development.