Crown Inn Farm, Crown Lane, Lower Peover, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 9QB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the location is suitable for residential development, having regard to local and national policies for housing and the accessibility of services, facilities and sustainable transport modes
• The effect of the proposal on protected species, particularly bats
• Whether the proposal would deliver statutory BNG requirements
• The effect of the proposal on the efficiency of Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope
• Whether the proposal would achieve satisfactory standards of residential amenity for neighbouring and future occupiers
• Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for affordable housing

What decided it

The proposal would impair the efficiency of the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope (a World Heritage Site), causing less than substantial but considerable harm that, combined with the unsustainable location, failure to secure affordable housing, and unacceptable residential amenity impacts, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the moderate benefits of housing delivery.

The moderate benefits of housing supply and economic benefits were outweighed by significant negative weight from the unsustainable location, failure to secure affordable housing, failure to achieve satisfactory residential amenity, and less than substantial but considerable harm to the World Heritage Site designation of Jodrell Bank Observatory; the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.