Woodside Farm, Chivery, Tring, HP23 6LD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework)
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area and the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• whether there is an essential need for a rural worker to live permanently at or near their place of work in the countryside
• any other considerations
• if the proposal is inappropriate development, whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The appellants failed to demonstrate an essential need for a rural worker's dwelling and that any harm was clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances.

The benefits of the proposal in terms of the economy, biodiversity and housing supply did not clearly outweigh the totality of Green Belt harm, AONB harm and conflict with the adopted housing strategy, so very special circumstances did not exist and the proposal conflicted with the development plan as a whole.