Demonstrable five-year housing supply not enough to block village housing scheme

The Planning Inspectorate has overturned a decision by an Essex council to refuse a 120-home development in Rayne.
Braintree District Council had denied outline planning permission for the scheme by Acorn Braintree, but the developer appealed to the inspectorate, which subsequently overruled the local authority.
The development site, behind Gilda Terrace, off Rayne Road, was not allocated in the Local Plan, while the fact the district council was able to demonstrate a five-year housing supply was not enough to block the proposal.
Gabrielle Spray, BDC cabinet member for planning, said: “We are incredibly disappointed with the decision made by the Planning Inspectorate.
“The inspector in this case considered the council did have a five-year housing land supply but did not agree with the council’s or the community’s view of the importance of the landscape and the role it plays in maintaining the separation of Braintree and Rayne, which is recognised by its proposed allocation as a green buffer within the Local Plan Section 2.
“He concluded the benefits of the scheme outweighed the negatives.”