Land to the west of Park Farm, Thornbury, BS35

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the location of the appeal site outside the settlement boundary of Thornbury would be harmful to the spatial strategy in the development plan
• The effect of the proposal on heritage assets
• Whether the proposal would result in an unacceptable loss of best and most versatile agricultural land
• Whether the proposal would provide sufficient choice for journeys other than the private car
• Whether the Council can demonstrate a five year housing land supply
• The effect on ecology and nature conservation

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply engaged the paragraph 11(d)(ii) tilted balance, and the substantial package of benefits (including housing and affordable housing delivery) was found to outweigh the identified harms, including heritage harm.

the very substantial package of public benefits (housing delivery, affordable housing, self-build plots, sustainable transport, biodiversity gains and economic benefits) outweighed the less than substantial heritage harm, the limited harm from development outside the settlement boundary, the limited harm from loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, and the moderate harm from accessibility shortcomings, such that adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits