Land North Of Highgrove Farm, Main Road, Bosham, West Sussex

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for highways infrastructure with particular regard to the A27
• Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for local recreational and travel infrastructure
• The effects on the Chichester Harbour and Solent Maritime Special Areas of Conservation with particular regard to nitrates
• The effects on the Singleton and Cocking Tunnels Special Area of Conservation with regard to protected species
• The effects on the character and appearance of the area including having regard to the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What decided it

The absence of any significant harm on the main issues (highways, European sites, and only limited landscape harm), combined with the Council's housing land supply shortfall and the substantial benefits of the scheme, meant no adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits under paragraph 11d) of the Framework.

The significant benefits of housing delivery (including affordable housing), community facilities, and economic benefits, together with limited weight from the emerging allocation and significant weight from compliance with the Interim Housing Statement, outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance and the loss of some Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, such that no adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits when assessed against the Framework or the development plan as a whole.