Land at Wellhouse Lane, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 0BN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effects of the development upon the character and appearance of the area
• whether or not the development would be accessible by different modes of transport
• the effects upon highway safety
• whether or not the development would provide an acceptable level and quality of affordable housing units
• the effects upon local drainage infrastructure
• whether or not the development would have an adverse effect on social infrastructure

What decided it

The combination of significant harm to character and appearance, unacceptable highway safety risk from the unresolved visibility obstruction, and failure to meet the criteria for a rural exception site under Policy DP32 meant the proposal conflicted with the development plan with no material considerations of sufficient weight to overcome this.

The benefits of additional affordable housing were outweighed by the harm to character and appearance, the unacceptable highway safety risk, and the failure to meet the locational and process requirements for a rural exception site; the five-year housing land supply meant the tilted balance did not apply.