LAND COORDINATES 490736 143800, KNOWN AS THE PADDOCKS, THE GREEN, ELSTEAD, GODALMING , SURREY, GU8 6DA

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, including the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the landscape character of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV)
• 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 harm by reason of inappropriateness to the openness of the Green Belt and harm to the landscape character of the AONB and AGLV were not clearly outweighed by other considerations, and there were not the very special circumstances necessary to justify inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and harm to AONB and AGLV landscape character were not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of using previously developed land, biodiversity enhancements, zero-carbon design, modest housing contribution, and the neutral fallback position, resulting in dismissal.