Land at Courtwood Farm, Court Hill, Fordingbridge, SP6 1QD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the site is a suitable location for the appeal scheme having regard to: (a) the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area; and (b) the potential for future occupants to access services and facilities through means other than by use of cars
• the effect of the proposal on the integrity of European Protected Sites (EPS)

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the area caused by the incongruously urbanising scale and layout of the development in a rural location, combined with the unsustainable location requiring heavy dependence on private car use, outweighs the modest housing supply benefits even under the tilted balance.

The modest housing benefits and economic benefits of the development were afforded moderate weight, but the significant harm to character and appearance and the conflict with sustainable development objectives, including the unsustainable location and failure to promote walking, cycling and public transport use, significantly and demonstrably outweighed these benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.