®Planning appeal decision
Land North and South of Newent Road, Highnam, GL2 8DQ
Planning appeal 3312539 at Land North and South of Newent Road, Highnam, GL2 8DQ (Tewkesbury Borough Council) was allowed on 11 December 2023 by Inspector Hanna P, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal is in a suitable location with regard to local and national policies for housing, commercial development, and accessibility.
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.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SD1Policy EMP2Policy B1Policy SP1Policy SP2Policy SD10Policy SD4Policy RES5Policy SD6Policy LAN2Policy H2Policy INF1Policy SD2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 202Paragraph 55Paragraph 57
- Judgments
- Catesby Estates Ltd and SSCLG v Steer [2018] EWCA Civ 1697
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.