Farmers Lane, Childswickham, Worcestershire, WR12 7HQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site is an appropriate location for residential development having regard to the spatial strategy of the development plan and access to goods and services
• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the proposed development is in an appropriate location having regard to flood risk
• Whether a financial contribution towards off-site affordable housing would be delivered by an appropriate mechanism

What decided it

The Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply (1.1 years) engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii), and the significant contribution of 8 dwellings to housing delivery outweighed the limited landscape harm and development plan conflicts.

The adverse impacts of the proposal's location outside the development boundary, limited sustainable transport options, and landscape harm, together with conflicts with Policies SWDP2, SWDP4 and SWDP25, would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of 8 dwellings contributing to the area's housing requirement, economic benefits, and environmental enhancements, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole; the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies and weighs heavily in favour of allowing the appeal.