Land South of 29 Bescar Lane, Scarisbrick, Liverpool, L40 9QR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on the living conditions of residents of No. 29 Bescar Lane, with particular regard to privacy
• 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 necessary to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal fails to meet the limited infilling exception in paragraph 149(e) of the Framework because the site does not form part of the village and does not fill a gap in a built-up frontage, and the resulting harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness is not clearly outweighed by other considerations.

the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight given to housing provision and the limited weight given to design quality, ecological gains, and economic benefits, such that very special circumstances do not exist