®Planning appeal decision
8 Fir Vale Road, BOURNEMOUTH, BH1 2JG
change of use from a former language school (Use Class F1(a)) to a 12-bed HMO (Use Class Sui Generis)
- Authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Davies N
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Old Christchurch Road Conservation Area
- The effect of the development on the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area and the Dorset Heaths Special Area of Conservation
- Whether the proposal would provide suitable living conditions for future occupants with regard to communal rooms and facilities
What decided it
The absence of a legal agreement to secure mitigation for impacts on the Dorset Heathlands SPA and SAC, combined with the less than substantial but unmitigated harm to the conservation area, meant the proposal conflicted with development plan policies and the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply due to the likely significant effect on habitats sites.
The limited benefits of additional residential accommodation and modest contribution to housing supply did not outweigh the conflict with development plan policies protecting designated heritage assets and European protected wildlife sites, particularly where the presumption in favour of sustainable development was disapplied due to the habitats site issue.
Framework references: 11, 12, 60, 70, 135, 186, 188, 205, 206, 208
Plan policies cited: Policy CS39, Policy CS41, Policy 4.4, Policy D4, Policy CS33
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.