Garage 1 adjacent to 7, Forest Hill Road , Sowood Elland, HX4 9LB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework, including the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of residents of 6 Forest Hill Road with particular regard to outlook
• the effect of the proposal on the use of the highway with regard to safety and accessibility
• if the proposal is inappropriate development, whether harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight attached to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, combined with additional harms to character and appearance, living conditions and highway safety, which are not clearly outweighed by the limited housing benefit in an area with no five-year supply.

The harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, together with harm to character and appearance, living conditions and highway safety, was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefit of providing one dwelling in an area without a five-year housing land supply, and very special circumstances were not established.