Land North of Browns Lane, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 8UT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would accord with the spatial strategy in the development plan, with regard to its location and the proposed quantum of housing
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with regards to spatial and visual separation of Wigginton, and the Wigginton Conservation Area (WCA)
• the need for, and provision of affordable housing in Lichfield and Tamworth, including the mix and tenure
• whether the proposal would make adequate provision for affordable housing, education, healthcare, public open space, off-site highway works and travel plan monitoring
• the effect of the proposed access on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the development subject of Appeal A
• whether the proposal would make adequate provision for affordable housing and off-site highway works

What decided it

The very substantial weight attached to the delivery of up to 210 much-needed affordable homes outweighed the identified moderate policy conflict and less than substantial heritage harm.

the benefits of the scheme, especially the very substantial weight given to 100% affordable housing provision together with open space, economic and biodiversity benefits, outweighed the moderate harm from locational policy conflict, the limited harm to character and appearance, and the less than substantial (low-to-moderate) harm to the Wigginton Conservation Area, so the appeals were allowed otherwise than in accordance with the development plan