Wildacres, Consall Lane, Consall, ST9 0BE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt including the effect on its openness
• Whether the proposal would be suitably located having regard to the sustainable development requirements of the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Local Plan (2020) and national policy
• If the proposal would be 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 weight attached to Green Belt harm by reason of inappropriateness and moderate harm to openness, combined with the unsustainable location, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight of other considerations, so very special circumstances did not exist.

The substantial weight given to Green Belt harm and moderate harm to openness, plus the unsustainable location, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight of self-build provision, energy efficiency, and potential biodiversity benefits, so the appeal was dismissed.