Land West of A4135 Draycott, Cam, GL11 5LN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would accord with the spatial strategy in the development plan
• whether the proposal would make adequate provision for affordable housing, self-build plots, public open space, education, libraries, highway improvements, public transport, travel plan, health facilities, policing, TROs and monitoring fees in respect of highway improvements, libraries, education, public transport, travel plan, and TROs
• the effect of the development proposed on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to density, layout and the scale of the dwellings
• whether the proposed development would offer suitable green infrastructure and connectivity

What decided it

The very substantial benefit of delivering market, affordable and self-build housing in a district unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply outweighed the limited harm arising from conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy.

the very substantial benefits of housing delivery (including affordable and self-build homes), together with moderate economic, biodiversity net gain and infrastructure benefits, were not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the limited harm from conflict with the spatial strategy policies and the limited harm from loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, notwithstanding conflict with the development plan as a whole