Settlement Expansion and Landscape Character – Appeal Ref: APP/Y3940/W/24/3343787
The appeal decision for land west of Semington Road in Melksham, Wiltshire, was allowed on 30 September 2024, marking a significant case for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) in areas where local councils face housing shortages.
The proposal concerned an outline planning application for 53 dwellings on land designated outside Melksham’s settlement boundary. The Inspector’s decision hinged on whether the development’s landscape and visual impacts, as assessed by the LVIA, were acceptable in the context of a shortfall in housing supply.
The LVIA revealed that the site’s proximity to existing development reduced its overall visual isolation, blending it somewhat with the Melksham urban edge. The Inspector noted that, while the site is currently an undeveloped field, its integration with adjacent housing developments helped to reduce its visual impact on the surrounding landscape. The LVIA further demonstrated that the site’s relatively flat terrain and established boundary vegetation would mitigate the visual prominence of new dwellings.
A critical factor was Wiltshire Council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing supply, which gave significant weight to the LVIA’s conclusion that the development would not harmfully alter the landscape character. With demand for housing pressing, the Inspector noted that the benefits of delivering additional housing, particularly affordable housing, would outweigh the visual impacts identified by the LVIA.
In approving the appeal, the Inspector highlighted the LVIA’s findings, which balanced the visual impact with the site’s semi-urban context and the strategic need for new housing. This case exemplifies how LVIA can play a vital role in assessing landscape impacts in relation to pressing planning needs, ultimately supporting a balanced approach to countryside preservation and residential development.
