The appeal site was currently vacant open land with the surrounding area being mixed in character and included commercial units, residential properties and agricultural land. Although the proposal would result in the loss of employment land, an inspector found that this would not be detrimental to the future sustainability of the village, nor to the supply of employment land in the borough as a whole. The inspector observed that there were some vacant commercial premises within the village which would enable employment generation to take place. In addition, the appellant pointed out that a number of businesses were located within the village, including a large haulage/distribution firm. As a result, the loss of the site would not significantly impact on the ability of the village to provide a modest range of employment opportunities which helped to avoid unsustainable travel patterns to jobs and services elsewhere. The benefits of the scheme included the provision of 10 dwellings in an accessible location, a contribution towards affordable housing off-site, and the opportunity to enhance the vitality of a rural community.
Alison Partington; Written representations
