Land at Tyntesfield Springs, Bristol Road, Wraxall, North Somerset, BS48 1NE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (Framework) and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of including land within the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposal would meet the policy exception for new dwellings in the countryside as set out in paragraph 80 of the Framework
• whether the proposed development would accord with the Council's development plan strategy and the Framework with regard to the location of housing
• 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 cumulative harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, together with harm to openness and to the character and appearance of the area, was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so very special circumstances did not exist.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt and significant harm to character/appearance, location policy and environmental accessibility were not clearly outweighed by the modest weight given to biodiversity/turbine benefits and the value of the Wright-designed architecture, so the balance tipped against the proposal.