Land Adjoining 1 Mount Drive, Stansted, Essex, CM24 8NY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would be compatible with the character and appearance of the surrounding area
• Whether the development would have acceptable impacts on highway safety and pedestrian safety
• Whether the development would have unacceptable effects on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers
• Whether the development would have unacceptable impacts on ecology and biodiversity
• Whether the development would contribute to housing supply in an area where additional sites are needed

What decided it

The proposal accords with an up-to-date development plan (or at least the relevant policies are not affected by the plan's age), causes no material harm to character, appearance, highway safety, residential amenity or biodiversity, and would contribute to housing supply in an area where additional sites are needed.

The benefits of housing delivery and the contribution to local housing supply outweighed any limited concerns about loss of openness and the detached built form in an area of semi-detached and terraced houses.