Land west of Pavenham Road, Oakley, Bedfordshire , MK43 7SY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development is in a suitable location for housing, having regard to the development plan and the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the proposal makes adequate provision for affordable housing, informal and amenity green space, equipped/natural play areas and outdoor sports

What decided it

The proposal conflicts with the spatial strategy of the development plan by failing to meet the criteria of Policy 67 of the BBLP, particularly the absence of clearly evidenced local need for affordable housing when the Neighbourhood Plan has already identified requirements and allocated sequentially preferable sites, combined with unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area.

The social, economic and environmental benefits of delivering 12 dwellings and contributing to housing land supply, to which moderate weight was attached, were not clearly and demonstrably outweighed by the conflict with the spatial strategy, harm to character and appearance, and failure to deliver affordable housing meeting identified local need and other infrastructure requirements, and therefore did not justify a decision otherwise than in accordance with the development plan.