®Planning appeal decision
Land at Penwood Grange, Penwood Drove, Penwood, Highclere, Hampshire, RG20 9EW
Planning appeal 3369932 at Land at Penwood Grange, Penwood Drove, Penwood, Highclere, Hampshire, RG20 9EW (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council) was dismissed on 29 October 2025 by Inspector Gravett R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regards to national policy, the development strategy for the area, proximity or access to services, facilities and opportunities for sustainable transport, and the transition to a low carbon future.
erection of a detached dwelling and garage/office with associated parking and amenity areas within the curtilage of Penwood Grange, to be accessed from an existing vehicular access and driveway off Penwood Drove
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Gravett R
- Postcode
- RG20 9EW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for housing, having regards to national policy, the development strategy for the area, proximity or access to services, facilities and opportunities for sustainable transport, and the transition to a low carbon future
What decided it
The absence of adequate access to services and facilities and the lack of genuine choice of transport modes other than the private car, combined with the substantial weight given to conflicts with Framework policies on sustainable transport, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery despite the shortfall in housing supply.
The moderate benefits of housing delivery and small-site contribution, together with design quality and landscape conservation, were outweighed by the substantial harm arising from the location's unsustainability and dependence on private car travel, contrary to Framework policies on sustainable development and transport.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SS6Policy CN9Policy SD1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 83Paragraph 84Paragraph 110
- Judgments
- Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 610; City & County Bramshill Ltd v SSHLG & others [2021] EWCA Civ 320
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.