Land at Old Ox Inn , Blandford Road , Shillingstone, Dorset , DT11 0TQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area including the Old Ox Inn and having regard to whether or not the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Shillingstone Conservation Area
• whether or not the development would create satisfactory living conditions for the occupants of Plots 3 and 4, having regard to the position of the proposed beer garden and the public house car park, and any overshadowing of the rear gardens from the ash tree (T12)
• the effect of the development on trees, with regard to the ash tree (T14) within the proposed beer garden and the ash tree (T12) on adjoining land behind Plots 3 and 4

What decided it

The moderate to significant harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the setting of the Old Ox Inn as a non-designated heritage asset, combined with unacceptable living conditions for Plots 3 and 4 and harmful effects on protected trees, outweighed the limited to moderate benefits of housing delivery in an area with housing land supply shortfall.

The substantial weight attributed to harm to the Conservation Area (a designated heritage asset), harm to living conditions of future occupants, and harm to trees was not outweighed by the limited to moderate weight of housing benefits, resulting in conflict with the development plan as a whole.