Land at Land Parcel 2 North of Junction at Crossoak Lane and, Picketts Lane, Salfords, Surrey, RH1 5RG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the use on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to its location within the Low Weald
• Whether the scale of the development is appropriate, having regard to the settled community and integration
• Whether harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal

What decided it

The harm from inappropriateness, loss of Green Belt openness and encroachment was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations (including personal need and the children's best interests), so very special circumstances were not established.

The personal circumstances, best interests of the children, lack of alternative accommodation and unauthorised encampment risk did not, in combination, clearly outweigh the substantial harm from inappropriateness and significant harm to Green Belt openness and encroachment, together with moderate character/appearance harm and the intentional unauthorised development, so very special circumstances were not made out and the appeal was dismissed.