Land off Silver Street, Besthorpe, Norfolk, NR17 2LE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be suitably located having regard to relevant development plan policies concerning development outside defined settlement boundaries
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• the effect of the proposal on flood risk and drainage
• whether the proposed development would provide adequate living conditions for future occupiers, with regard to noise
• whether the proposal would accord with the Council's development plan strategy for ecology
• the effect of the proposal on the River Wensum Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Broads SAC

What decided it

The proposal's location outside a defined settlement boundary in open countryside where it would conflict with development plan policies restricting development to protect the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, combined with unresolved concerns about flood risk, drainage, noise and biodiversity net gain, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited housing and economic benefits.

The adverse impacts of unsustainable location, potential flood risk, drainage concerns and noise issues significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits of 3 dwellings to housing supply and temporary economic benefits during construction, applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11dii of the Framework.