Land North of Hall Lane, Harbury, Southam, Warwickshire, CV33 9HG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effects the proposed development would have on the local settlement pattern and the landscape of the adjacent open countryside
• the effect of the proposed development with respect to the loss of open space within the setting of the adjacent Harbury Conservation Area
• whether there are material considerations to override any planning harm the development may cause

What decided it

The absence of an adopted self-build housing policy engaging the tilted balance of NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii), combined with a substantial local shortfall of 81 self-build plots and the proposal's environmental benefits, outweighed the comparatively slight harm to settlement pattern, countryside character and conservation area setting.

The slight benefits of providing one self-build dwelling to address a shortfall of 81 plots and environmental enhancement through wildflower meadow and tree planting outweighed the comparatively slight harm to settlement pattern, open countryside character and the setting of the Harbury Conservation Area, applying the tilted balance of NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii).