Knapp Farm, Bridges Stone, Alfrick, WORCESTER, WR6 5HR

replacement dwelling with associated garden curtilage, parking and landscaping

Authority: Malvern Hills District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Guest H

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposed dwelling would be disproportionately larger than the existing dwelling
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including the significance of nearby non-designated heritage assets
whether the proposal would make appropriate provision for biodiversity net gain
the effect of the proposal on protected species, with specific regard to bats

What decided it

The cumulative effect of the significant adverse impact on biodiversity net gain (which could not be demonstrated to be achievable), the limited harm to character and appearance, and the conflict with Policy SWDP 18 regarding disproportionate size, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and energy efficiency.

Under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework, the significant adverse impacts on biodiversity net gain, character and appearance, and policy compliance cumulatively significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and energy efficiency, tipping against the proposal.

Framework references: 11, 187, 216

Plan policies cited: Policy SWDP 18, Policy SWDP 6, Policy SWDP 21, Policy SWDP 22

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.