Land Adjacent Croft Gate , Halwill Junction, BEAWORTHY, Devon , EX21 5TN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the site is in a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the provisions of the local housing strategy
• whether the proposal would make appropriate provision for biodiversity net gain
• whether the proposed development would provide suitable living conditions for future occupiers with regard to noise, and air emissions

What decided it

The site's location outside the settlement boundary in countryside, combined with poor sustainable transport access and the failure to demonstrate compliance with biodiversity net gain requirements, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery.

The social benefits of housing delivery and limited economic benefits were outweighed by the harm arising from poor access to services by sustainable transport modes, absence of affordable housing, and uncertainty over biodiversity net gain compliance; the need for sustainable patterns of growth carried significant weight.