The Old Barn, Keevil, BA14 6NQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site would be in a suitable location having regard to the development plan policies concerning new housing in the countryside with reference to the conversion and re-use of rural buildings
• The effect of the proposal on the Bath and Bradford on Avon Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

What decided it

The significant shortfall in the Council's housing land supply (2.42 years) rendered the settlement strategy policies out of date, triggering the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and the moderate benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision outweighed the moderate harm to sustainable transport objectives.

The moderate adverse impact on sustainable transport objectives did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the totality of benefits (housing land supply shortfall, self-build provision, economic benefits, and consistency with Framework policy on re-use of isolated buildings) when assessed against Framework policies taken as a whole, applying the presumption in favour of sustainable development.