®Planning appeal decision
Land off Moor Lane, Backwell, Somerset, BS48 3LL
for the demolition of "Even Keel" and the erection of up to 35 dwellings, public open space, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage system and engineering works, with vehicular access off Moor Lane
- Authority
- North Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Davies G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would be at risk of flooding
What decided it
The proposal failed the sequential test for flood risk and the only means of access to the site would remain at risk of flooding, despite reasonably available lower-risk alternative sites.
The significant benefits of housing delivery, including 30% affordable housing and other moderate/modest benefits, did not outweigh the risk of flooding given that reasonably available lower-risk alternative sites existed and national flood risk policy strongly favours avoidance over mitigation.
Framework references: 11, 174, 177
Plan policies cited: Policy CS3, Policy DM1
Judgments cited: Mead Realisations Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 279 (Admin)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.