Ascot House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6WZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site is a suitable location for the proposal having regard to local and national policy
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety, having particular regard to its impact on the highway network, and the adequacy of the proposed access and parking provision
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the site and the area
• Whether appropriate living conditions would be provided for the future occupiers of the proposal and maintained for the occupiers of Ascot House, with particular regard to privacy, outlook, noise, anti-social behaviour, on-site open space, and internal space

What decided it

The failure to demonstrate that the cumulative impact of the proposal combined with the approved conversion of Ascot House would not result in severe residual impacts on the highway network, coupled with the conflict with the spatial strategy for the business park, outweighed the housing benefits even in the context of a minor shortfall in five-year housing land supply.

The benefits of 42 additional dwellings and affordable housing contribution were outweighed by the moderate weight of harm from the unsuitable location conflicting with employment protection policy, undemonstrated highway safety, and policy-non-compliant affordable housing provision, such that the proposal did not benefit from the presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.