The Old Orchard, Land East of Badgeworth Manor, Badgeworth, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 4UL

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 on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the site provides a suitable location for residential development having regard to local planning policies
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area having particular regard to the setting of Badgeworth Manor, a Grade II listed building
• If inappropriate, would the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations. If so, would this amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal would cause less than substantial but unacceptable harm to the significance of Badgeworth Manor, a designated heritage asset, and would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt, with these harms not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of a single dwelling in an area of housing need.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and moderate harm to openness, combined with significant weight to harm to the character and appearance of the area and the significance of the designated heritage asset, was not outweighed by the moderate weight given to housing supply benefits and limited economic benefits, such that very special circumstances did not exist.