®Planning appeal decision
Land North and South of Newent Road, Highnam, GL2 8DQ
erection of up to 95 dwellings and up to 3ha of commercial space associated with the expansion of Highnam Business Centre as well as associated infrastructure with all matters reserved except for access. A new access to serve the residential component will be provided onto Newent Road. Access to the expanded business centre will be via the existing access arrangements
- Authority
- Tewkesbury Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Hanna P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal is in a suitable location with regard to local and national policies for housing, commercial development, and accessibility
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of use of the existing and proposed accesses on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers using Newent Road
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, under which the significant benefits of housing and economic development were found not to be significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the identified harms.
The adverse effects of the development, including conflict with locational housing policies, moderate harm to character and appearance, considerable heritage harm (less than substantial) and limited harm from loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits of housing delivery and economic growth, so the tilted balance favoured granting permission.
Framework references: 11, 202, 55, 57
Plan policies cited: Policy SD1, Policy EMP2, Policy B1, Policy SP1, Policy SP2, Policy SD10, Policy SD4, Policy RES5, Policy SD6, Policy LAN2, Policy H2, Policy INF1, Policy SD2
Judgments cited: Catesby Estates Ltd and SSCLG v Steer [2018] EWCA Civ 1697
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.