Caravan site, Sycamore Street, Blaby, Leicestershire, LE8 4FJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the suitability of the location to accommodate the development
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including the Blaby Conservation Area and the setting of Blaby Hall and the Icehouse
• the effect of the development on biodiversity, with regards to loss of habitat, impact on protected species, and provision of lighting
• whether any other considerations would outweigh any identified harm and/or policy conflict

What decided it

The best interests of the appellants' young children and the absence of any alternative site, weighed against the less-than-substantial heritage harm, justified a personal, temporary (rather than permanent) grant of planning permission.

The less than substantial heritage harm (great weight) and negligible weight against intentional unauthorised development were not outweighed by the moderate weight given to the shortfall in traveller pitch supply and the great weight given to the children's best interests so as to justify a permanent permission, but those considerations did justify a personal, temporary permission for three years.