Land to South West of Laycock Village Hall, Laycock Lane, Laycock, Keighley, BD22 0PH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal is 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 and the purposes of the Green Belt
• Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Goose Eye and Laycock Conservation 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 necessary to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and purposes, combined with less than substantial harm to the Conservation Area, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefit of housing delivery and limited environmental benefits, such that very special circumstances were not demonstrated.

The moderate positive weight given to housing delivery and limited positive weight to environmental benefits did not clearly outweigh the substantial weight required to be given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, and the less than substantial harm to the Conservation Area.