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 absence of very special circumstances clearly outweighing the substantial harm to the Green Belt and other identified harm, given an existing oversupply of gypsy and traveller pitches meeting identified need.

The personal needs of the families, the best interests of the children and the lack of alternative accommodation did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt, the significant harm from loss of openness and encroachment, the moderate harm to character and appearance, the conflict with the development plan as a whole and the intentional unauthorised nature of the development, so very special circumstances were not established and the appeal was dismissed.