Land at Westwood House , Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire , SL5 8BA

Authority: Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Russell M

What decided it

The Council's reliance on an emerging Local Plan to address housing land supply shortfall was premature, but this did not clearly constitute unreasonable behaviour that caused unnecessary expense, as the Council's balancing of harms against housing benefits was not manifestly unreasonable.

The Council balanced significant and demonstrable harms from spread of development, impact on character, and erosion of the settlement gap against the contribution of 18 dwellings (including 5 affordable) and found the harms outweighed the benefits.

Framework references: 11

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- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
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- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
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