9 Castle Street, Southampton, SO14 6GZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether there has been a loss of a 3-bedroom family dwelling and, if so, is it justified
• the effect of the development on the living conditions of the existing occupiers of nearby residential properties, having regard to noise, disturbance and social cohesion
• whether there would be satisfactory provision of storage for waste and recycling, with particular regard to pedestrian convenience and safety

What decided it

The unjustified loss of a 3-bedroom family dwelling combined with moderate harm to neighbouring residents' living conditions and pedestrian safety concerns outweighed the modest economic benefits, even in the context of a shortfall in housing land supply.

The tilted balance was engaged due to the Council's inability to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply; however, the modest social and economic benefits of the serviced apartments were outweighed by the loss of family housing stock, moderate harm to living conditions and community cohesion of existing residents, and pedestrian safety impacts, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.