Appeal allowed and full award of costs for residential development in Blofield Heath
Lanpro has secured planning permission on appeal, along with a full costs award, for 8 dwellings in Blofield Heath, Greater Norwich.
The application was refused by Broadland District Council on the basis of alleged harm to the landscape character and appearance of the area, which the Council considered to outweigh the benefits of delivering new housing in that location.
Lanpro successfully argued on behalf of PPAP Investments that the Greater Norwich Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2017 (which shows the Council to be able to demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing within the Norwich Policy Area) can be afforded only “limited weight” in the application determination process, having not been subject to Examination in Public. The Inspector agreed with this. He also agreed with our arguments, that there would only be limited harm in terms of effects on the character and appearance of the area, and concluded that the harm would not significantly outweigh the social and economic benefits of the development.
The Inspector awarded full costs to PPAP Investments against the Council, due to a committee resolution to support the application in January 2018, but then subsequently refused by committee in March 2018. This was considered by the Inspector to be unreasonable behaviour by the Council.
If you have any queries on this decision or would like to discuss a similar proposal, please contact Jane Crichton at Lanpro on 01603 631319 or jane@lanproservices.co.uk
The application was refused by Broadland District Council on the basis of alleged harm to the landscape character and appearance of the area, which the Council considered to outweigh the benefits of delivering new housing in that location.
Lanpro successfully argued on behalf of PPAP Investments that the Greater Norwich Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2017 (which shows the Council to be able to demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing within the Norwich Policy Area) can be afforded only “limited weight” in the application determination process, having not been subject to Examination in Public. The Inspector agreed with this. He also agreed with our arguments, that there would only be limited harm in terms of effects on the character and appearance of the area, and concluded that the harm would not significantly outweigh the social and economic benefits of the development.
The Inspector awarded full costs to PPAP Investments against the Council, due to a committee resolution to support the application in January 2018, but then subsequently refused by committee in March 2018. This was considered by the Inspector to be unreasonable behaviour by the Council.
If you have any queries on this decision or would like to discuss a similar proposal, please contact Jane Crichton at Lanpro on 01603 631319 or jane@lanproservices.co.uk