®Planning appeal decision
Land west of South Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7NY
an outline planning application for the erection of up to 46 dwellings with associated works including the formation of a vehicular access, provision of open space and landscaping
- Authority
- Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Butcher C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the location of the site is appropriate, including taking account of the Council's spatial strategy
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including its effect on the settings of the Castle Cary Conservation Area and other heritage assets
- the effect of the proposed development upon the integrity of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site, with particular regard to phosphates
What decided it
The significant shortfall in the Council's 5-year housing land supply (2.22 years) meant only very limited weight was given to the conflict with the spatial strategy, allowing the very significant benefits of housing delivery to outweigh the moderate harms identified.
The very significant benefits of delivering up to 46 homes (35% affordable) outweighed the moderate collective harm from less than substantial heritage harm, limited character and appearance harm, and loss of Grade 1 agricultural land, such that adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits under paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy SD1, Policy SS1, Policy SS5, Policy LMT1, Policy HG3, Policy SS2, NP Policy HOU2
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.