Little House West End Lane, Essendon, Hatfield, AL9 6AU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would represent an inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the development upon the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the surrounding area
• 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 the development

What decided it

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so very special circumstances did not exist to justify the development.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness, to which substantial weight must be given, was not clearly outweighed by the limited weight attributable to other considerations (extant permission and residential benefits), therefore very special circumstances did not exist.