Site South Of 86 Rodden Road, Frome, BA11 2AL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers with particular regard to internal and external space
• the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of existing residents at 88 Rodden Road by virtue of outlook
• whether the proposed development would deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG)

What decided it

The failure to deliver the statutory biodiversity net gain requirement, combined with substantial harm to character and appearance and inadequate internal living space, substantially and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery and redevelopment of previously used land.

The substantial weight given to redevelopment of previously used land as a benefit was substantially and demonstrably outweighed by the combined substantial weight of harm from conflict with design policies, inadequate internal space for future occupiers, and failure to satisfy the statutory biodiversity net gain objective, resulting in dismissal.