®Planning appeal decision
35-43 Westover Road, Christchurch Poole, BOURNEMOUTH, BH1 2BZ
‘Outline Application for partial retention of building including main facades at three levels on the Westover Road and Hinton Road frontages to allow for the construction of 936sq.m. commercial floorspace at lower ground and upper ground levels, comprising three units for use within either E (a) (retail), E(b) (restaurant), F1 (learning and non- residential institution) or F2 (b, c & d) (local community); 86 apartments, 26 car parking spaces, associated servicing facilities, refuse and cycle storage’
- Authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Burley P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the appeal scheme on designated and non-designated heritage assets
- whether there would be satisfactory living conditions for the future occupiers of the appeal scheme
- whether any effects on designated habitats sites would be appropriately mitigated
- whether affordable housing and transport-related contributions are necessary and have been secured
What decided it
The unmitigated impact on designated habitats sites (Dorset Heathlands and New Forest) due to the absence of executed planning obligations, combined with unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers and the moderate harm to the non-designated heritage asset, meant the adverse impacts clearly outweighed the benefits.
The significant positive weight given to housing delivery and moderate positive weight to employment and regeneration benefits were outweighed by the moderate harm to the non-designated host building, less than substantial harm to designated heritage assets (which was itself outweighed by public benefits), unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers, unmitigated habitats impacts, and absent planning obligations for affordable housing and transport contributions.
Framework references: 11, 12, 16, 193, 212, 215, 216
Plan policies cited: CS40, CS41, D4, CS21, CS32, CS33, CS34, CS39, CS14, CS15, AH1, 6.10
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.