Land adjoining Fir Tree House , Wield Road , Medstead Alton , Hampshire , GU34 5LY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would be acceptable having regard to planning policies on the location of housing and its effect on the character and appearance of the rural area and wider landscape

What decided it

The significant harm to the established rural and landscaped character of the site and its surroundings, resulting from development that would be physically, visually and functionally separated from the built-up area and surrounded by open fields on all four sides, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the moderate benefits of housing supply and economic benefits.

The moderate benefits of housing supply, economic benefits from construction, social benefits from local spend, and meeting the appellant's personal circumstances were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant adverse impacts of harm to rural character and landscape, resulting in dismissal despite the tilted balance being engaged.