Land Opposite Wild Meadow, Bowden Lane , Welham, Leicestershire, LE16 7UX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether occupiers of the site would be at risk of flooding
• whether the proposal would provide an acceptable choice of means of sustainable transport to services and facilities thereby minimising reliance on the private motor vehicle

What decided it

The very substantial adverse weight afforded to the flood risk harm—highly vulnerable development in Flood Zone 3 where national policy states development should 'not be permitted'—combined with significant harm from unsustainable location and car dependency, outweighed the material considerations in favour of the appeal including the lack of five-year supply and the family's housing and welfare needs.

The very substantial adverse weight of flood risk harm and significant harm from unsustainable location and car dependency outweighed the material considerations in favour including lack of five-year supply of Gypsy/Traveller pitches, absence of alternative pitches, the appellant's status as a Traveller, the family's need for settled accommodation, the children's schooling stability, the wife's disability, and the use of previously developed land, because the appellant could reasonably seek permission on a compliant alternative site elsewhere.