®Planning appeal decision
Land South of Arlesey Road, Stotfold, Bedfordshire , SG5 4HD
a development of up to 181 dwellings to include 35% affordable, an integrated Care Village (C2 use) with ancillary community facilities, 9.88 ha of public open space comprising parkland and woodland extension, Pix Brook flood mitigation proposals, extensive new landscaping, play areas, creation of biodiversity habitat, new access arrangements and all ancillary works
- Authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Woodwards O
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including on landscape character
- whether or not the Council can demonstrate a five year supply of housing land
What decided it
The significant and numerous benefits of the proposal, particularly market and affordable housing and extra care provision against a background of an undemonstrated five year housing land supply, outweighed the limited and moderate harms identified, tipping the balance in favour of the proposal.
The significant benefits of market housing, affordable housing, market and affordable extra care accommodation and economic growth, together with moderate benefits from self-build provision, flood relief contributions, biodiversity net gain and public open space, outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance, moderate harm from loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, and limited harm from residual carbon emissions, such that the appeal was allowed without needing to engage the tilted balance.
Framework references: 11, 15, 47, 57, 71, 74, 81, 174, 175
Plan policies cited: Policy EE5, Policy HQ1, Policy SP7, Policy SP5, Policy SP1, Policy SP1a, Policy H4, Policy H3, Policy H6, Policy DC5, Policy CC1, Policy CC6, Policy T4, Policy HQ5, Policy HQ11, Policy EE2
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.