Land North East Of Ballinderry House, Folkestone Road, Dover, CT15 7AB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, having particular regard to the landscape and scenic beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape
• the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, with particular regard to visibility and the provision of strategic road network infrastructure
• the effect of the proposed development on biodiversity, with particular regard to protected species
• whether the proposed development would provide suitable living conditions for future occupants, with particular regard to the provision of day rooms and private amenity space
• the effect of the proposed development on groundwater sources
• the effect of the proposed development on flood risk
• whether other material considerations, including the need for and supply of pitches and personal circumstances of the appellant outweigh any harm identified such as to justify the development

What decided it

The cumulative harms of a very high order — principally to the landscape and scenic beauty of the Kent Downs National Landscape and to highway safety, compounded by unresolved harm to biodiversity, groundwater and living conditions — were not outweighed by the modest benefits of pitch provision and the personal circumstances of the occupants.

the harms of a very high order, including great weight harm to the KDNL's landscape and scenic beauty and significant weight harm from highway safety and other policy conflicts, were not outweighed by the modest public benefit of two pitches, moderate weight personal circumstances, and great weight given to the best interests of the children, so the appeal was dismissed