Land To The East Of, Melford Road, Lawshall, Suffolk, IP29 4PX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location for new housing with particular regard to local and national planning policy.
• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
• Whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of the Grade II listed building known as Little West Farm.
• Whether affordable housing should be provided.
• If there is any harm whether this is outweighed by other considerations, with particular regard to the provision of self-build housing.

What decided it

The great weight attached to the harm to the setting of the Grade II listed Little West Farm, combined with conflict with the development plan's locational strategy and character policies, outweighed the benefits of the self-build housing proposal.

The high-order weight attributable to the self-build and other benefits of the proposal was outweighed by the great weight given to heritage harm and the substantial weight against the grant of permission arising from conflict with the development plan as a whole.