Land at Stocks Lane, Newland, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 5AZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the appeal site is an appropriate location for the proposed development having regard to the settlement strategy and development plan and national policies relating to development within rural areas
• whether or not the site is suitable for residential development having regard to the effect the proposed land use and the amount of development would have on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The proposal would conflict with the development plan and Framework as a whole because it would be located in an unsustainable location outside the settlement boundary and would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area, and these harms significantly and demonstrably outweigh the modest benefits of providing up to five dwellings despite the shortfall in housing land supply.

The modest benefits of housing provision and economic/social benefits were outweighed by the significant harm of locating development in an unsustainable location contrary to the settlement hierarchy and the significant harm to character and appearance, resulting in adverse impacts that significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.