Bethel Methodist Church, 148 Marlow Bottom, Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3PP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether it has been demonstrated that the proposed development would be acceptable with respect to the loss of a community facility
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, including the visual quality of the Chilterns National Landscape (CNL)
• the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupants of numbers 146 and 150 Marlow Bottom with reference to outlook, privacy, sunlight and daylight
• the effect of the proposed development on trees, with particular regard to off site trees
• the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, with particular regard to the provision of parking

What decided it

The significant harm to character and appearance, outlook of neighbours, and the loss of a community facility without adequate evidence of surplus to need, combined with the National Landscape designation preventing the tilted balance from being engaged, outweighed the modest housing benefits.

The modest social and economic benefits of housing delivery and the use of previously developed land within a settlement were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance, the overbearing impact on neighbouring outlook, harm to tree T1, and the failure to demonstrate the community facility was surplus to need; the tilted balance was not engaged due to the National Landscape designation.