Land at Church Lane, Church Lane, Highclere, Hampshire, RG20 9RG

Erection of 4no. semi detached dwellings with access and parking

Authority: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Conde L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What decided it

The proposed development would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area and the AONB, and in accordance with footnote 7 of the Framework, this provides a clear reason to dismiss the appeal notwithstanding the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

The modest contribution to housing and socio-economic benefits of four dwellings were outweighed by the harm to the character and appearance of the area and the AONB, which the Framework requires to be conserved and enhanced.

Framework references: 176

Plan policies cited: Policy E1, Policy E10, Policy EM1, Policy EM10

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

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