Land to the rear of Holmwood, The Street, Walsham Le Willows, Suffolk, IP31 3AZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would be in an appropriate location for new housing with regard to the local development strategy
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, the setting of the nearby listed buildings and whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Walsham Le Willows Conservation Area
• the effect of the proposed development on highway safety
• the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings, in relation to privacy, outlook and disturbance
• the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity

What decided it

The less than substantial harm to the Walsham Le Willows Conservation Area and the significant harm to highway safety outweighed the limited public benefits of providing a single dwelling in a sustainable location.

The less than substantial harm to the heritage asset and significant highway safety harm were not outweighed by the limited public benefits of a single dwelling contribution to housing supply and rural community vitality, and the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply due to the clear reason for refusal provided by heritage asset protection policies.