Beechfield, Moats Lane, South Nutfield, REDHILL, RH1 5PF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework) and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the purposes of including the land within the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• if the development is inappropriate, 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

What decided it

The lack of any alternative accommodation for the intended occupants, particularly Miss Reading and her young child, combined with the absence of a five-year supply of traveller pitches, was sufficient to justify very special circumstances for a temporary, but not permanent, grant of planning permission.

The substantial harm from inappropriateness, moderate loss of openness and limited harm to Green Belt purposes were, on balance, not clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to justify a permanent permission, but the unmet need for pitches, absence of alternative sites and personal/family circumstances did clearly outweigh the Green Belt harm to justify a temporary permission until the end of 2025.