Land Adjacent to the Down House, Harestock Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 6NY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area including the Winchester – Littleton, settlement gap
• Whether the appeal site is in a suitable location for housing with regard to the spatial strategy for the area
• The effect of the proposal on trees
• Whether the development would be likely to have a significant effect on the integrity of the Solent Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site ('the Solent')

What decided it

The lack of certainty that the proposed nutrient mitigation would achieve nutrient neutrality meant the Inspector could not conclude, via Appropriate Assessment, that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of the Solent protected sites.

The significant weight attached to the self-build housing benefits did not outweigh the harm from failure to safeguard the Solent's protected habitats sites (attracting more than significant weight) and the conflict with the development plan, so the appeal was dismissed.