Land North of Finkle Street, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 1NG

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 safe use of the highway
• 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 harm to the openness of the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, combined with significant harm to character and appearance and highway safety concerns, was not clearly outweighed by the limited housing benefit in an area without a five-year supply.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, together with significant harm to character and appearance and harm to highway safety, was not clearly outweighed by the limited contribution to housing supply where a five-year supply cannot be demonstrated, and therefore the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development did not exist.