Land at Hill Barton, Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development is in a suitable location in terms of access to services and facilities
• The effect of the development on the intrinsic character and beauty of the landscape
• The effect of the use on the living conditions of occupiers of neighbouring dwellings with particular regard to light, noise and disturbance
• The effect of the development on the setting of the nearby grade II listed building, The Thatch
• Whether there are any material considerations, such as the need for employment land within the area and any positive economic impacts arising from the development, that would outweigh any conflict with the development plan

What decided it

The significant and demonstrable shortfall in employment/logistics land, together with the businesses' operational need for the parking, outweighed the identified harms for the temporary three-year period sought.

The significant weight attached to the shortfall in employment land supply and the considerable weight given to the businesses' need for the site, tempered by the temporary three-year nature of the permission, outweighed the harm arising from conflict with the development plan (unsuitable location and landscape harm, plus living-conditions harm capable of mitigation by condition).