1 Philip Close, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 7AP

Authority: Wiltshire Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Sharp S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effects of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
whether acceptable living conditions would be provided for future occupiers of the proposed dwelling with regards to internal living accommodation

What decided it

The significant harm to character and appearance from the cramped and incongruous siting of the dwelling, combined with unacceptably small internal accommodation, demonstrably outweighs the minor benefits of housing supply.

The benefits of one dwelling contributing to housing supply and construction employment were outweighed by the significant and demonstrable harm to character and appearance and living conditions of future occupiers, despite the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: CP57, CP1, CP2, CP15, CP61, CP64, Policy 6 of the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan 2021

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.