43, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1AR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would provide an adequate standard of living conditions for future occupants, with particular regard to floor space, outdoor amenity space, noise and odour, and light, outlook and privacy for the occupiers of Flats 1 & 2
• Whether it would place unreasonable restrictions on the current or permitted operation of existing activities with regard to noise and odour

What decided it

The inadequate standard of living conditions, particularly the poor light, outlook and privacy for Flats 1 & 2 and the lack of outdoor and communal amenity space, substantially outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and city centre support.

Policy S4 requires development within settlements to be approved unless benefits would be substantially outweighed by adverse effects; the Inspector gave substantial weight to housing provision, access to facilities, reduced travel need, local services support and heritage asset re-use, but found the remaining adverse effects of inadequate living conditions and poor design substantially outweighed these benefits.