Former Railway Nurseries, Forest Road, Hainault, IG6 3HE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect on the living conditions of the future occupiers with regard to outlook
• Whether the 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 openness of the Green Belt caused by introducing new buildings on a cleared site with no existing structures to replace, combined with the adverse effect on living conditions of future occupiers, cannot be outweighed by the modest benefits of 3 new dwellings and housing contribution.

The modest weight attached to the location with respect to services and public transport and the contribution to the housing stock does not clearly outweigh the substantial weight to be given to Green Belt harm and the moderate harm to living conditions of future occupiers, such that very special circumstances do not exist.