Planning permission obtained on appeal for a headquarters building and new homes.

Client

CABI International

Site details and constraints:

This is a rural location in an area of natural beauty and heritage assets.

Our role and services

The planning team at Ridge provided expert witness evidence at a Public Inquiry.

Ridge was able to demonstrate that although the scheme would cause limited harm to the AONB, in this case exceptional circumstances could be demonstrated which outweighed this harm. Furthermore, Ridge demonstrated that the proposed scheme would cause no loss of significance to the setting of the heritage asset.

A viability report was submitted by Ridge which justified a reduction in the affordable housing provision.

Ridge was able to provide robust evidence confirming that the scheme met the environmental, social and economic role thus meet the three dimensions of sustainable development.

Outcomes

CABI is a not-for-profit organisation, which undertakes scientific research providing solutions to problems in agriculture worldwide. It is a significant employer locally. The planning permission allows for a needed new headquarters building for CABI, securing several advantages that will flow to both the national and local economy.

The approved housing element, which was necessary to fund the required replacement building, will provide market and affordable housing in an accessible location where there is a serious deficit of both.