20 Westfield Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3QL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area
• the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupiers of 18 Westfield Drive with regard to light and outlook and 22 Westfield Drive with regard to privacy and outlook, and 182 Ashby Road and Hickling Court with regard to privacy
• whether adequate living conditions would be provided for the future occupiers of the proposed development with particular regard to outdoor amenity space, light and outlook
• whether sufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposed development would not adversely affect protected species
• whether sufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that there would be a net gain in biodiversity having particular regard to the development plan

What decided it

The significant collective harms to character and appearance, neighbouring living conditions, and failure to demonstrate biodiversity net gain outweighed the modest benefits of housing delivery, as the proposal conflicts with the development plan taken as a whole.

The modest benefits of housing delivery and use of a windfall site within the settlement, carrying moderate cumulative weight, were outweighed by the significant collective harms to character and appearance, living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, and failure to demonstrate biodiversity net gain, resulting in dismissal of the appeal.