Woodview Lodge, Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, ST. ALBANS, AL2 3TW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the 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 required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The considerable unmet need for gypsy and traveller pitches, the absence of a five-year supply of deliverable sites, and the best interests of the child and unborn child dependants, taken together, clearly outweighed the harm to the Green Belt.

The harm caused by reason of inappropriateness and the moderate harm to openness of the Green Belt was clearly outweighed by other considerations (unmet pitch need, lack of five-year supply, and best interests of children), amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development.