23 Coal Yard, The Street, Charlwood, RH6 0BY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• 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 totality of harm to the Green Belt (by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness) and significant harm to character and appearance, even when weighed against the positive consideration of the emerging plan and limited housing benefits, did not clearly outweigh the harm required to establish very special circumstances.

The substantial weight afforded to harm to the Green Belt and significant harm to character and appearance was not clearly outweighed by the positive weight given to the emerging plan's proposed Green Belt boundary changes, the important but limited housing benefits, and limited biodiversity benefits, so the balance did not favour the development.