Hey Field Farm, Garswood Old Road, Ashton in Makerfield, WN4 0XR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect on the living conditions of future occupiers, with particular regard to noise, disturbance and wellbeing
• The effect on biodiversity
• The effect on the safety, integrity and operational needs of the railway
• The effect on land stability, with particular regard to historic coal mining activities
• If the development is inappropriate in the Green Belt, 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 proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would significantly harm openness and fail to preserve the essential characteristics of the Green Belt, and the other considerations advanced do not clearly outweigh this harm or the additional harm to living conditions, character and appearance, and biodiversity.

The benefits of mental health therapy and wellbeing for young people (attributed substantial weight) and limited economic benefits did not outweigh the harm to Green Belt openness and purposes, harm to character and appearance, harm to living conditions of future occupiers, and insufficient evidence to rule out harm to biodiversity.