®Planning appeal decision
Vacant plot of land to the South and East of 82 Meadowcroft, Longsight Lane, Harwood, BL2 3JS
erection of 20 no. dwellinghouses including affordable housing together with associated access and parking, landscaping and drainage infrastructure
- Authority
- Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Manchester S
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would provide an adequate standard of living conditions for future occupiers, with particular regard to internal space
- The effect of the proposal on biodiversity, with particular reference to Castle Croft and Bradshaw Brook Site of Biological Importance (SBI) and veteran trees
- The effect of the proposal on the operation of the highway
What decided it
The loss or deterioration of Ancient Tree Inventory listed veteran trees, an irreplaceable habitat, provided a strong reason for refusal under Framework paragraph 11d)i, disapplying the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The benefits of housing delivery and affordable housing did not constitute exceptional reasons and did not demonstrably outweigh the harm from loss/deterioration of veteran trees and the associated policy conflict.
Framework references: 11, 193
Plan policies cited: Policy CG6AP, Policy JP-H3, Policy JP-G2, Policy JP-G3, Policy JP-G7, Policy JP-C5, Policy JP-H2, Policy JP-G8, Policy OA5
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.