Land on the South West Side of, Broadmead Road, Three Legged Cross, BH21 6RW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the development amounts to inappropriate development within the Green Belt, for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework
• if so, the development's effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the development has given rise to any other harm, and in particular, the effect on the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands' European sites, and also local character
• the position in the Dorset Council area regarding the provision and need for gypsy and traveller sites, and policy thereto
• whether the appellant has demonstrated that very special circumstances exist to outweigh the fundamental policy objection

What decided it

The combined harm to the openness of the Green Belt and the precautionary risk to the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands European sites was not clearly outweighed by the unmet gypsy and traveller need or personal/human rights considerations, so very special circumstances were not established.

the unmet need for gypsy and traveller pitches, personal circumstances and the best interests of the children were outweighed by the harm to the openness of the Green Belt, the risk to the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands and harm to local character, such that very special circumstances did not exist