Land Lying to the South West Side of Coldharbour Farm, Lingfield Common Road, Lingfield, RH7 6BZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
• The effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt.
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.
• The effect of the development on the setting of heritage assets, namely Paris Farm and Coldharbour Farm Listed Buildings (Grade II).
• The effect of the development on ecology and biodiversity, including the ecological integrity of the Lingfield Nature Reserve, Blindly Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Lingfield Cernes SSSI.
• The effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupants of Paris Farm Cottage, Yew Tree Cottage and Paris Farm with regard to outlook and privacy.
• 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 harm to the openness of the Green Belt (compounded by character, heritage and ecological harms) was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits put forward, so very special circumstances were not established.

The limited public benefits (secure site for animals, modest economic benefit) did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness, together with harm to character and appearance, heritage setting and uncertain ecological impact, so very special circumstances were not demonstrated.