Land Rear Of The Hyde, Glebe Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay, Essex, CM11 1RL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposals on the Green Belt, including any effects on openness and the purpose of including land within it
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the proposal on designated sites and priority species
• Whether or not the proposal would increase flood risk to surrounding areas
• Whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations such as to provide the very special circumstances required to justify development in the Green Belt

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with no very special circumstances to justify it, and the Green Belt is a protected asset under Framework paragraph 11d(i) which provides a clear reason to dismiss the appeal notwithstanding the housing land supply deficit.

The benefits of addressing local housing land supply deficit and providing construction jobs and local spend were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by harm to the Green Belt (including definitional harm and loss of openness) and harm to character and appearance, with no exceptional circumstances identified to justify the scheme.