Land off Hog Lane, Ashley Green, HP5 3PW

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 of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• The effects on local infrastructure and the accessibility of the site to services and facilities
• Whether the proposal would deliver an appropriate amount of affordable homes
• 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 failure to demonstrate an identified local community need for affordable housing as required by development plan policy and the Framework's definition of rural exception sites, combined with the substantial harm to Green Belt openness, meant that very special circumstances did not exist to justify inappropriate development.

The benefits of housing delivery and economic benefits (moderate weight) and the shortfall in housing land supply did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness (substantial weight), and therefore very special circumstances were not established.