Land On The South Side Of Totnes Road, Collaton St Mary, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7PT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the living conditions of future occupiers of the proposed development would be acceptable, with particular regard to pedestrian access, and the provision of the parking and storage areas
• the effect of the proposal on flooding with particular regard to the management of surface water
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• the effect of the proposal on protected species and the integrity of the South Hams Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

What decided it

The significant harm to character and appearance, combined with unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers and inadequately demonstrated flood risk management, outweighed the moderate benefits of housing delivery in the context of a five-year housing land supply shortfall.

The moderate benefits of housing delivery, including small-scale development, market choice, local employment and housing supply, were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance, harm to living conditions of future occupiers, and failure to adequately demonstrate that flood risk would not increase elsewhere.