Land Rear of 9-23, Sky End Lane , Hordle , SO41 0HJ

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 of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for new housing, with particular regard to the settlement strategy for the area
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety, including the safety of vulnerable road users
• the effect of the proposal on ecology, including protected species
• 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 required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial harm to the Green Belt through inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with unsuitability of location, character harm, highway safety deficiencies and unresolved ecology concerns, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of housing delivery and site remediation, so very special circumstances did not exist.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, considerable weight against unsuitability of location, significant weight against character and highway safety harm, and great weight against unresolved ecology concerns, were not clearly outweighed by moderate weight for housing delivery and site remediation benefits, so the proposal failed the very special circumstances test.