Land East Of Aldridge Court Nursing Home, Stables, Little Aston Road , Aldridge, WS9 0NN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including whether or not the proposal would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Aldridge Conservation Area and the effect on the setting of the non-designated heritage asset Aldridge Court
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• whether or not any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations and if so, whether this would amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and heritage setting were not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of a single dwelling, and the Green Belt harm provided a clear reason for refusal that engaged the exception in paragraph 11d) of the Framework.

The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and permanence and the substantial harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and heritage setting were not outweighed by the limited weight attributable to the provision of one dwelling and modest economic benefits, and the Green Belt harm provided a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11d) of the Framework.