Land to the Rear of Crossways, Reading Road, Shiplake, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The principle of the proposed residential development, including a consideration of the current status of housing land supply.
• How the mix of housing proposed would meet with local demand.
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area.
• Whether the proposed development would contribute sufficiently towards affordable housing and other forms of facilities and infrastructure which could be necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms.

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, and the substantial weight given to affordable housing benefits outweighed the limited harms identified.

Substantial weight was given to the benefits, particularly affordable housing in an accessible location, against limited harm from the housing mix shortfall and visual/landscape impact, such that adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits under paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.