34-36 High Street, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3BZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular regard to access design
• The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of future occupiers of the development, with particular regard to the provision of outdoor living space
• The effect of the proposal on the safety of future occupiers/users of the development, with particular regard to crime safety
• The effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Solent Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the area, arising from the building's excessive height, mass and bulk relative to the intimate Fire Station Close townscape, outweighs the moderate benefits of housing delivery and economic benefits when assessed against the Framework taken as a whole.

The moderate benefits of 8 additional dwellings, economic benefits from construction and occupation, and the sustainable location within Cosham District Centre were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance of the area, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.