Land Adjacent to A448 , Mustow Green, Worcestershire

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt including its effect on openness and the purposes of the Green Belt
• whether the proposal would accord with the strategic aims of the development plan in respect of its location
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including landscape character
• whether access to and from the site from nearby settlements would be safely and conveniently provided by means other than the private motor vehicle
• if the development is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify development

What decided it

The harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, together with other identified harm, was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations put forward, so very special circumstances were not established.

The substantial harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt, together with moderate openness harm, limited-to-moderate landscape harm and highway/accessibility harm, was not clearly outweighed by the identified benefits (care home need, economic/social benefits, environmental improvements), so the appeal was dismissed.