®Planning appeal decision
Orchard Farm, Defford Road, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3BX
demolition of existing farmhouse, agricultural buildings and structures, the erection of a phased development of up to 300 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and associated public open space, drainage, infrastructure and engineering works with all matters reserved except access
- Authority
- Wychavon District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Ford K
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be a suitable location for residential development having regard to the spatial strategy of the development plan.
- The effect on the landscape character of the area.
- The effect of the development on Tiddesley Wood, a designated Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and whether footnote 7 of the NPPF is engaged.
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the NPPF, and the benefits of the scheme were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the identified harms.
The limited harm from conflict with the spatial strategy, moderate landscape harm and less than substantial heritage harm were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant benefit of market housing delivery, substantial benefit of affordable housing, and moderate benefits from economic activity and green infrastructure/biodiversity net gain, so permission was granted under the tilted balance in paragraph 11(d) of the NPPF.
Framework references: 11, 187, 193, 215
Plan policies cited: Policy SWDP2, Policy SWDP21, Policy SWDP25, Policy SWDP22, Policy SWDP15, Policy SWDP4, Policy SWDP7, Policy SWDP37, Policy SWDP39
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.