Land West of Upper Park Road, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9EN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on openness and the purposes of including land within the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether or not the appeal scheme would adversely impact on protected species and protected habitats
• whether or not the scheme would lead to an increase in flood risk
• whether or not the appeal scheme includes the provision of necessary infrastructure directly required by this development
• whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations such as to provide the very special circumstances required to justify development in the Green Belt

What decided it

The proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would harm openness and Green Belt purposes, and the housing benefits do not clearly outweigh this harm such that very special circumstances exist to justify the development.

The benefits of additional market and affordable housing were outweighed by the significant harm to the Green Belt, character and appearance, and the absence of necessary mitigation and infrastructure provision; the tilted balance did not apply due to Green Belt protection.