Land at Arna Wood Lane, Aldcliffe, LA2 0AE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development is suitably located, having regard to local and national planning policies and to the accessibility to services and facilities
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area and the landscape
• Whether the development would provide an acceptable means of foul and surface water disposal
• The weight to be attached to other considerations, including the need and supply of Gypsy & Traveller sites; the availability (or lack) of alternative sites; the personal circumstances of the occupiers including the best interests of children; the Planning Policy for Traveller sites; and the presumption in favour of sustainable development set out by the National Planning Policy Framework

What decided it

The substantial weight attached to the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, the lack of alternative sites and the Council's longstanding policy failure outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance and the conflict with the development plan's locational policy.

The substantial benefits of meeting unmet Gypsy and Traveller need, the lack of alternative sites, policy failure and the appellant's personal circumstances outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance, the conflict with Policy DM9's locational requirements, and the limited weight against intentional unauthorised development.