Land at Lower Broadbridge Farm, A281, Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex, RH12 3GP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposal on water neutrality having particular regard to the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Ramsar sites.
• The effect on the proposal on the significance of the heritage assets.
• The effect of the proposal on flood risk to the surrounding properties and area.
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding landscape, including whether the proposed development would contribute to the coalescence of Broadbridge Heath and Slinfold.
• Whether the location of the proposed development outside of the Built-Up Area boundary is acceptable having regard to development plan policies.
• The effect of the proposal on biodiversity.
• The housing land supply position and whether the proposal would make suitable provision for affordable housing.

What decided it

The very substantial benefits of housing and affordable housing delivery, together with biodiversity and economic benefits, were found under the tilted balance to outweigh the limited heritage, landscape and policy-conflict harms identified.

the less than substantial heritage harm and localised landscape harm, together with conflict with development plan policies on the settlement boundary, were outweighed by the significant social, economic and environmental benefits (including 45% affordable housing, biodiversity net gain and economic benefits), so that under the tilted balance the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits