Land Lying West of, The Causeway, Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset, DT10 2BH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site would be suitable for open market housing, having regard to local and national planning policies on the location of housing
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular reference to hedgerows and trees
• the effect of the proposed development on the availability of the best and most versatile agricultural land
• the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity
• whether the proposed development would make adequate provision for community benefits, including affordable housing

What decided it

The cumulative weight of conflicts with the development plan regarding location, character and appearance, agricultural land loss, biodiversity harm and lack of affordable housing provision, combined with significant landscape and environmental harms that outweigh the moderate benefit of housing supply in circumstances where the tilted balance applies, led to dismissal.

The moderate benefit of additional housing supply in an area with a 4.27-year housing land supply was significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant harms to valued landscape character, best and most versatile agricultural land, biodiversity, and the failure to secure affordable housing, resulting in dismissal despite the tilted balance being engaged.