Marlpost Meadows Bonfire Hill, Southwater, HORSHAM, RH13 9BU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the site represents a suitable location for housing, having regard to its accessibility to services and facilities
• the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Arun Valley Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site, with particular regard to water neutrality
• whether any harm in respect of the above issues would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme

What decided it

The housing land supply shortfall triggered the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d), and the water neutrality mitigation measures secured by condition eliminated the only potential reason for refusal under the Framework's protective policies, allowing the modest housing benefit to outweigh the conflict with the development plan.

The conflict with HDPF Policy 26 was given limited weight due to the out-of-date housing boundaries; the modest but cumulatively significant housing benefit, the site's reasonable accessibility to services, and its status as previously developed land outweighed any adverse impacts, with no Framework protective policies providing a clear reason for refusal once water neutrality was secured.