Land at Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 3TD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the location is suitable for a new dwelling
• whether the proposal takes account of its effect on the habitats or species that might be present in the area
• would any harm by reason of inappropriateness or any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight given to the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, which the appellant's arguments concerning design quality, community benefits, energy efficiency and ecological enhancements did not outweigh, and the absence of very special circumstances to justify the development.

Substantial weight was given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness; the benefits advanced by the appellant (design quality, community use, energy efficiency, biodiversity, underground construction, demonstration project potential) were given limited weight and did not outweigh the Green Belt harm or conflict with the development plan.