Greenhouse, 81 High Street, HEATHFIELD, TN21 8JA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupier(s) of no 77 High Street, with particular regard to outlook
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposal would provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers, with particular regard to outlook and natural light, in the context of the proximity to off-site trees

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, combined with the substantial benefits of delivering four additional homes and an enlarged retail unit in a highly sustainable brownfield location, outweighed the considerable harm to neighbouring living conditions when assessed under the tilted balance in paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.

The considerable harm to the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, to which significant weight was attributed, was outweighed by the benefits of delivering four additional homes on a brownfield site in a sustainable location and maintaining retail vitality, assessed under the tilted balance triggered by the Council's shortfall in five-year housing land supply.