Land at Hall Moss Farm, Bolton Road, Darwen, BB3 2TT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site represents an appropriate location for the proposed development, having regard to the spatial strategy for the area and the accessibility of services and facilities
• The effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• The effects of the proposal on highway and pedestrian safety with particular reference to the proposed access
• The effects of the proposal on natural habitats and biodiversity
• Whether any harm arising from the proposed development would be outweighed by other considerations

What decided it

The conflict with paragraph 193 of the Framework (loss or deterioration of irreplaceable blanket bog habitat without a suitable compensation strategy) removed the tilted balance and, combined with the other identified harms, outweighed the benefits of the scheme.

The moderate weight given to personal circumstances and significant weight given to the children's best interests, together with the shortfall in five-year pitch supply, did not outweigh the considerable weight attached to the collective harm to highway and pedestrian safety, natural habitats and biodiversity, character and appearance, and the inappropriate location.