®Planning appeal decision
Land at Gate Farm, Sutton Benger, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 4RE
Planning appeal 3363149 at Land at Gate Farm, Sutton Benger, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 4RE (Wiltshire Council) was allowed on 18 July 2025 by Inspector Brennan P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, having regard to the local development strategy.
erection of two new dwellings and associated ancillary development
- Authority
- Wiltshire Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Brennan P
- Postcode
- SN15 4RE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location, having regard to the local development strategy
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area including designated heritage assets
- whether other material considerations outweigh any harm identified such as to justify the development
What decided it
The Council's very significant shortfall in five-year housing land supply (2.03 years) engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11, and the absence of harm to designated heritage assets or character and appearance meant the presumption in favour of sustainable development applied.
The adverse impacts of the proposal's location outside the settlement boundary and conflict with development plan policies were outweighed by the benefits of housing delivery (two dwellings), economic benefits, environmental benefits (33% biodiversity net gain), and the accessible location with opportunities for sustainable transport, in the context of a very significant shortfall in housing land supply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- WCS Policy CP1WCS Policy CP2WCS Policy CP10NWLP Saved Policy H4WCS Policy CP57NP Policy SB7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 73Paragraph 78Paragraph 83Paragraph 84Paragraph 110Paragraph 129Paragraph 135Paragraph 139
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.