80 The Street, Kirby-Le-Soken, FRINTON-ON-SEA, CO13 0EG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development with particular regard to the settlement strategy of the development plan and the accessibility of services and facilities
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the proposed development on protected species
• whether the proposed development would provide adequate living conditions for occupants of the proposed dwelling and neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to outlook and privacy

What decided it

The appeal site's location outside the settlement development boundary in countryside with poor accessibility to services and facilities, combined with unacceptable harm to character and appearance through backland development and absence of ecological survey to protect bats, rendered the proposal contrary to the development plan with no material considerations to justify approval.

The modest economic and social benefits of one additional dwelling were outweighed by harm arising from the site's location outside the settlement boundary, poor accessibility requiring reliance on private motor vehicles, unacceptable harm to character and appearance through backland development contrary to the linear ribbon pattern, and failure to demonstrate absence of harm to protected species.