GraceMachin Planning & Property have won not just one but two appeals for new housing on the same site within the highly desirable village of Aslockton in Nottinghamshire with no affordable housing or s106 contributions.

Aslockton is an attractive Vale of Belvoir settlement circa 13 miles to the East of Nottingham. Aslockton benefits from direct train access to the centre of Nottingham and has a strong market demand for new homes.

Following instructions originally given by the landowner in the middle of 2017 two applications were submitted to Rushcliffe for 10 and then 6 units. The site was a non-allocated green field site but it was considered well related to the centre of Aslockton and importantly GraceMachin advised that the ‘timing was right’ to make an application due to an acute housing shortage in Rushcliffe (a lack of five year housing supply) and because the emerging Part2 Local Plan would not be adopted until the middle of 2019.

Both applications were not supported by Rushcliffe who initially expressed concerns on ecology (which were subsequently withdrawn on the second application) and repeatedly expressed heritage/archaeology concerns which were ultimately considered ‘disproportionate’ by the Planning Inspector.

With this site the supporting case presented by GraceMachin resulted in both applications being allowed on appeal.

As the Inspector set out, “Overall the adverse impacts identified above do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the social and economic benefits…Consequently in both of the appeals the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies”.

The appeal result confirms that an objective and pro-active planning strategy can reap significant rewards for landowners and submitting an appeal can and should be pursued even in the light of objections made by the Local Planning Authority and other groups.

The applications were robustly supported with planning policy statements from GraceMachin plus transport studies, flood risk reports, archaeological studies and ecological appraisals from other consultants.

In summary the application was principally allowed on the basis that the ‘timing was right’ in the context of the Local Plan adoption process and a lack of housing delivery in Rushcliffe over a number of years.