Land Located South of Old Rickyard Piece, New Road, Weston Turville, HP22 5ZD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the mix of housing would reflect the local need
• the effect of the development on biodiversity, with particular regard to, i) on-site protected species – specifically considering breeding birds, badgers, roosting bats and foraging and commuting bats, and ii) whether the biodiversity net gain condition is capable of being discharged
• whether the scheme would accord with the local development strategy, with particular regard to connectivity to the wider green infrastructure network
• whether the development would make suitable provision for affordable housing, public transport, primary health care, primary and secondary education, publicly accessible green space and play provision, sport and leisure provision, and highway mitigation measures
• if conflict with the development plan would arise, whether any such conflict would be outweighed by material considerations

What decided it

Insufficient survey evidence meant the effect of the development on foraging/commuting bats and breeding birds could not be properly assessed, and this unresolved harm, combined with conflict with the development plan as a whole, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme.

the adverse impacts of granting permission, including substantial weight given to unresolved harm to protected species and conflict with the development plan as a whole, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and other advantages, so the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply