Land off (Car Park Site), Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1LG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the site should be considered to be within the Green Belt and, if so, the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the development on health care infrastructure with particular regard to GP surgery capacity
• in the alternative, having regard to the conclusion on the first main issue: if the site is within the Green Belt, would the harm, by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal; or if the site is not within the Green Belt, consideration of any merits of the development against any harm identified in an overall planning balance

What decided it

The very significant harm to the character and appearance of the area from the proposed building's poor relationship with the street significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of the scheme.

The significant benefits of specialist elderly housing provision and re-use of previously developed land, together with modest economic benefits, were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the very significant harm to the character and appearance of the area.