There was no dispute between the parties that there was a growing need for care home accommodation and although Class C2 uses should count against the council’s overall housing requirement, the inspector decided it did not comprise traditional housing, since it had a more institutional focus. The need for such space attracted significant weight, the inspector held, noting that it could also free up more traditional housing elsewhere. But it conflicted with a neighbourhood plan which set out a spatial vision for the area and which had the support of the local community. The benefit of increasing the provision of care homes did not outweigh this conflict.
Inspector: Robert Parker; Written representations
