®Planning appeal decision
Land to the Rear of 76 and 78 Church Lane, Sarratt, WD3 6HL
the development of up to 20 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) with new access to Church Lane and pedestrian link to existing public footpath
- Authority
- Three Rivers District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- 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 whether or not the proposal would conserve or enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the AONB)
- whether or not the proposal makes adequate provision for affordable housing
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and, if so, whether or not the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it
What decided it
The substantial benefits of providing 20 affordable homes in an area with an identified pressing need for affordable housing and where the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply outweighed the limited harm to character, appearance and the AONB.
The benefits of the proposed affordable housing, economic benefits and biodiversity net gain substantially outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance, limited harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, and loss of existing biodiversity on the appeal site, with the proposal passing the tilted balance test.
Framework references: 11, 57, 149, 176
Plan policies cited: Policy CP1, Policy CP4, Policy CP11, Policy CP12, Policy DM1, Policy DM2, Policy DM7, Appendix 2
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.