Fir Island, The Ridgeway, London, NW7 1AX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development 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 development on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Mill Hill Conservation Area, including the loss of protected trees, and the effect of the development on the non-designated heritage asset known as Fir Island
• The effect of the development on highway operations, safety and parking stress
• Whether the development would accord with local policies with regard to the availability of residential accommodation
• Whether the 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 cumulative harm to the Green Belt (inappropriateness and loss of openness), heritage assets (conservation area and non-designated heritage asset), highways operations and parking stress, and loss of residential accommodation could not be outweighed by the benefits of additional childcare provision, and no very special circumstances existed to justify the development.