Cloud 9, Bow Green Road, Bowdon, Cheshire, WA14 3LX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of occupiers of 5 and 7 Bow Green Road and future occupiers of the development under construction to the south, with particular regard to privacy
• whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers of the proposed development, with particular regard to outlook
• whether the biodiversity gain condition would apply to the proposed development
• whether the information necessary to determine whether the biodiversity gain condition could be successfully discharged has been provided

What decided it

The harm to character and appearance caused by the prominent ramped basement access and the high footprint-to-plot ratio, which significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing delivery and brownfield reuse when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

The substantial benefits of housing supply, brownfield reuse, and sustainable location were outweighed by the great weight given to the harm to character and appearance and failure to accord with local and national design guidance, resulting in the presumption in favour of sustainable development not applying.