50 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, BH6 3RB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the development on the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area (the SPA) and the Dorset Heaths Special Area of Conservation (the SAC)
• The effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupants of Nos 3 and 4 Respryn Mews and Nos 9/9a New Park Road with regard to overlooking and loss of privacy
• Whether the development would provide suitable living conditions for future occupants with regard to privacy

What decided it

The absence of a secured mitigation agreement to address the impact on the Dorset Heathlands SPA and SAC, combined with the unacceptable harm to character and appearance that could not be adequately remedied by conditions without creating further harm, meant the limited benefits of one additional dwelling could not outweigh the development plan conflicts.

The benefits of providing two additional dwellings and supporting housing supply were outweighed by the harm to character and appearance of the area and the inability to safely conclude that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands SPA and SAC, particularly as the permitted scheme would deliver similar benefits with fewer policy conflicts.