Land off Shirley Road, RUSHDEN, Northamptonshire, NN10 6DQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The principle of the proposed development and the weight to be given to relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the loss of established street trees on the character and appearance of Prospect Avenue
• Whether the proposal would be acceptable in layout and highway safety terms, with particular reference to the proposed site access off Prospect Avenue and the junction improvement at Prospect Avenue/Higham Road
• The effect of the construction phase of development on the living conditions of residents of the surrounding area, with particular reference to existing parking patterns and the movement of modular deliveries
• Whether the proposed development would be acceptable in design terms, with particular reference to layout, POS, garden sizes, landscaping and parking provision
• The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbouring and future residents with particular reference to overbearing impact, overshadowing and privacy
• Whether the proposal would make adequate and satisfactory provision for older people's accommodation
• The effect of the proposed development on flood risk
• Whether the submitted planning obligations would satisfactorily address the impact of the proposed development

What decided it

The proposal's accordance with the development plan taken as a whole, combined with the significant benefits of plan-led housing and affordable housing delivery, outweighed the limited and largely temporary disbenefits identified.

The significant weight attached to plan-led housing delivery, 133 new homes (including 40 affordable units), and moderate weight to economic and environmental benefits clearly outweighed the minor weight given to tree loss and traffic impacts and the moderate weight given to construction-phase disruption.