HAYMEADOW , BERROW GREEN , MARTLEY, WORCESTER, WR6 6PL

Authority: Malvern Hills District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Billings C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the proposal would meet the relevant development plan policy to comprise live-work accommodation
whether or not the proposed development would be in a suitable location, having regard to development plan and national planning policy for the delivery of housing, including sustainable travel choices

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, combined with the established rural business use at the site and the significant reduction in the appellant's commute by living on-site, meant the presumption in favour of sustainable development applied and the housing delivery benefits outweighed the location conflict.

The harm arising from the proposed development by virtue of its location in an unsustainable location lacking sustainable travel choices was significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the benefits of supporting an established rural business, reducing the appellant's commute, and delivering housing in an area with a significant housing supply shortage, with the presumption in favour of sustainable development applying.

Framework references: 11, 88, 89

Plan policies cited: Policy SWDP 1, Policy SWDP 2, Policy SWDP 4, Policy SWDP 8, Policy SWDP 29

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

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