Former Pumping Station, Main Road, Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0JF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal upon highway safety
• whether the proposal would provide suitable living conditions for future occupiers with particular regard to the standard of accommodation
• the effect of the proposal upon existing trees
• the effect of the proposal upon biodiversity and protected species
• the effect of the proposal upon the character and appearance of the area
• whether the appeal site is a suitable location for a new dwelling, having regard to the spatial strategy

What decided it

The cumulative effect of unacceptable highway safety impacts, inadequate living conditions, adverse effects on trees and biodiversity, and unsuitability of location in the countryside meant the proposal conflicted with the development plan as a whole and the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest housing and economic benefits.

The modest contribution to housing supply and limited economic benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harms to highway safety, living conditions, trees, biodiversity and the unsuitability of the location, resulting in dismissal despite the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.