The Old Manor Broomwood Lane, Ramsden Heath, Billericay, CM11 1JR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development proposed would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• Would the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight given to harm to Green Belt openness and inappropriateness was not clearly outweighed by the fallback position and other considerations, particularly because a new outbuilding constructed after the application was submitted diminished the consolidation benefits.

The fallback position and other considerations advanced by the appellant weighed heavily in favour of the proposal, but did not clearly outweigh the substantial weight that must be given to the harm to the Green Belt arising from inappropriateness and loss of openness.