Planning appeal decision
Land West of Sandhill Farm, Salisbury Road, Sherfield English, SO51 6FL
Planning appeal 6006170 at Land West of Sandhill Farm, Salisbury Road, Sherfield English, SO51 6FL (Test Valley) was allowed on 25 June 2026 by Inspector O Marigold, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would accord with the Council's spatial strategy for development in the countryside, having regard to access to services and facilities.
erection of dwelling combined with partial change of use from agricultural to residential land, with landscaping scheme
- Authority
- Test Valley
- Appeal type
- Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- O Marigold
- Postcode
- SO51 6FL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would accord with the Council's spatial strategy for development in the countryside, having regard to access to services and facilities
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate five years' housing land supply engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11, and the combined benefits of the development—particularly the outstanding design quality and contribution to housing supply—clearly outweighed the conflict with the spatial strategy.
The significant negative weight given to the conflict with Policy COM2 was outweighed by the significant positive weight for outstanding design quality and environmental standards, moderate positive weight for housing and self-build provision, and limited positive weight for economic benefits and biodiversity net gain, resulting in permission being granted.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy COM2 of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 139
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Test Valley
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed6 July 20266004535Larch Gables, Old Stockbridge Road, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, SO20 8DZ
- Dismissed29 June 20266006347Home Spring, Houghton Road, North Houghton, Stockbridge, SO20 6LF
- Dismissed1 May 20266004223Appledore, The Drive, East Wellow, Romsey, SO51 6BN
- Dismissed23 October 20253367177Mornington , North Lane, West Tytherley, Hampshire, SP5 1LX
- Dismissed25 September 20253352671Land at Spencer's Farm, Stockbridge Road, King's Somborne, SO20 6NZ
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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