Land at Featherbed Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 0BT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect on the openness and the purposes of including land within the Green Belt
• the effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
• whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, would this amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development, on either a permanent or temporary basis

What decided it

The very special circumstances needed to outweigh Green Belt harm were made out only for a temporary, personal permission for the appellant's family and one pitch, based on his personal circumstances and the best interests of his children, but not for a permanent permission or for the second pitch intended for Ms McCann and her son.

Substantial Green Belt harm, significant character and appearance harm, and moderate harm from intentional unauthorised development were not clearly outweighed by other considerations to justify a permanent permission, but the lesser harm of a temporary five-year personal permission for one pitch was outweighed by the appellant's personal circumstances and the best interests of his children, whereas the case for a second pitch was not made out.