Grimshill Farm House Southend Road, Billericay, CM11 2PP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of Grimshill Farm House
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether any harm, by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposed development

What decided it

The proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt with a greater impact on openness than existing development, combined with less than substantial harm to the setting of a listed building, and these harms were not clearly outweighed by the modest benefits of the scheme.

The substantial weight to be given to harm to the Green Belt, combined with the great weight required for heritage conservation and the moderate harm to character and appearance, was not outweighed by the modest benefits of limited housing contribution, minor economic benefit, restoration of original curtilage, and potential biodiversity gain; the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development did not exist.