Gall's Drove, Guyhirn, Wisbech St Mary, PE13 4UF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed change of use would be considered necessary in an area at risk of flooding (Flood Zone 3) in the context of a risk-based approach to the location of proposals through the application of an appropriate sequential test
• whether any harms identified would be outweighed by other considerations including the general need for, and provision of sites, the availability of alternatives, and the personal circumstances of the appellant, so as to justify the change of use

What decided it

The substantial weight attached to the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches and the absence of any suitable alternative sites outweighed the considerable weight of the flood risk harm from locating the site in Flood Zone 3.

the substantial cumulative weight of benefits (unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, absence of alternatives, settled base for traditional way of life) outweighed the considerable weight of harm arising from the conflict with flood risk policy