Land at Old Sarum Airfield , Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6FW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development scheme could, in terms of its likely financial viability, deliver 25% affordable housing units [the viability issue]
• Whether the use of the C287 Ford Road to access the dwellings in Area C would be safe and otherwise acceptable including for existing walkers and cyclists using the road and whether Area C would be accessible by sustainable transport modes [the highways issue]
• Whether, and if so how, the proposed development would result in 'less than substantial harm' to the designated heritage assets in the area (including potentially their settings), namely any of the listed buildings on or adjacent to the site, the Old Sarum Airfield Conservation Area (CA), the Old Sarum Scheduled Monument (SM) and the Stratford Sub Castle CA that surrounds it, and if so, whether such harm would be outweighed by any public benefits of the development [the heritage issue]
• The planning balance: whether other material considerations would outweigh any conflict with the development plan, either in terms of the standard or tilted balance

What decided it

The heritage benefits, in particular the restoration/rebuilding of the at-risk Grade II* Hangar 3, were found by the Inspector (agreeing with Historic England) to outweigh the less than substantial harm to the designated heritage assets, underpinning the finding of overall accordance with the development plan.

The heritage benefits alone (notably Hangar 3's restoration) outweighed the mid-range less than substantial harm to heritage assets, and this was reinforced by additional benefits including 315 dwellings (79 affordable) in an area with only a 2.03-year housing land supply, landscape/community benefits and improved sustainable transport links, leading to an overall finding of accordance with the development plan.