Land north of Possingham Farmhouse, Ashford Road, Great Chart, TN26 3BQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area
• Whether traffic from the proposed development would have an unacceptable effect on the safe operation and capacity of the A28 corridor between the Matalan and Tank roundabouts
• Whether the development would be located in a sustainable location where future residents would be able to access local services and facilities using sustainable modes of transport
• Whether the proposed development would result in harm to Possingham Farmhouse (Grade II listed)
• Whether a financial contribution towards secondary school provision is necessary and reasonable in all respects
• Whether the benefits of the scheme would outweigh any identified harm

What decided it

The substantial benefits of the scheme, particularly housing delivery in an area unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, clearly outweighed the limited landscape, heritage and other harms even under the ordinary planning balance.

The benefits of the scheme (655 dwellings including 30% affordable housing, WwTW funding benefits, economic benefits, biodiversity net gain, public access and highway/PROW improvements) clearly outweighed the identified moderate landscape/visual harm and limited heritage harm, even on the ordinary section 38(6) 'flat' balance, and would also survive the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.