Land adjacent to Highfield House, Whitchurch, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6DW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to relevant policies relating to the countryside, climate change and accessibility
• The effect of the proposal on the identified protected habitat sites (River Wye SAC and SSSI, and Wye Valley Woodlands SAC)

What decided it

The conflict with development plan policies on countryside development and sustainable location, combined with the lack of safe and accessible routes for walking or cycling, substantially and demonstrably outweighed the modest housing and other benefits of the proposal.

The modest housing benefit and limited climate and economic benefits were substantially and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harm from conflict with development plan policies on countryside location and accessibility to sustainable transport.