Windmill Boarding Kennels, Royd Lane, Millhouse Green, Sheffield, S36 9NY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policy
• The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the proposal would provide satisfactory living accommodation for future occupiers having particular regard to noise
• 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 required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with the failure to demonstrate satisfactory living conditions due to noise and the absence of a convincing functional need for on-site accommodation, could not be outweighed by the limited benefits claimed.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt and the failure to demonstrate satisfactory living conditions outweighed the limited weight afforded to the business benefits and on-site presence, resulting in the absence of very special circumstances to justify the development.