Land Known As The Puffing Field Adjoining Brackenhurst, Windmill Hill , Chipperfield, WD4 9DG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• Whether or not the proposal necessitates a requirement for affordable housing, and if so, whether the proposal makes appropriate provision for this
• 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 proposal amounts to inappropriate development in the Green Belt which would cause harm to openness and the purposes of the Green Belt, and the social and economic benefits of a single dwelling do not clearly outweigh this harm to constitute very special circumstances.

The social, economic and environmental benefits of delivering a new dwelling and modest biodiversity gains do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness and countryside character, and very special circumstances do not exist.