Planning appeal decision
131 Highridge Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 8HT
Planning appeal 3351142 at 131 Highridge Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 8HT (Bristol City Council) was dismissed on 14 February 2025 by Inspector Jones GP, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of its surroundings including whether the character or appearance of the Bishopsworth and Malago Conservation Area would be preserved or enhanced.
Erection of a pair of semi-detached three-bedroom dwellings
- Authority
- Bristol City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Jones GP
- Postcode
- BS13 8HY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of its surroundings including whether the character or appearance of the Bishopsworth and Malago Conservation Area would be preserved or enhanced
- The living conditions of nearby residents in Highridge Road and Four Acres with specific reference to noise, disturbance and privacy
- Highway and pedestrian safety
What decided it
The combination of significant visual harm to the conservation area setting and unresolved highway safety defects in the access arrangements, which could not be adequately mitigated, outweighed the housing benefits.
The benefits of housing delivery and economic benefits during construction were outweighed by the significant visual harm to the conservation area setting and the serious highway safety defects that could not be adequately mitigated.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy Policy BCS21Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy Policy BSC22Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy Policy BCS10Bristol Development Framework Core Strategy Policy BCS14Bristol Local Plan Policy DM26Bristol Local Plan Policy DM27Bristol Local Plan Policy DM31
- Judgments
- Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL, 1982, P37]; Wessex Regional Health Authority v SSE [1984]; Wadehurst Properties v SSE & Wychavon DC [1990]; Breckland DC v SSE and T. Hill [1992]; North Wiltshire District Council v Secretary of State for the Environment (1993) 65 P. & C.R. 137; R (Midcounties Co-operative Limited) v Forest of Dean District Council [2013] EWHC 1908 (Admin)
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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