Land North of Old Place Farm, Beechenlea Lane, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the buildings and containers would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework
• The effect of them on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the buildings and containers on the character and appearance of the area, including whether they would preserve or enhance the setting of the Grade II listed Alice Dene and the Swanley Village Conservation Area
• The effect of the buildings and containers on ecology
• If the buildings and containers are inappropriate development whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The buildings and containers were inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing harm to openness, a Green Belt purpose and heritage assets, and the other considerations did not clearly outweigh that harm so as to amount to very special circumstances.

The limited economic benefits, reuse of previously developed land and potential biodiversity gains did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm from inappropriateness in the Green Belt together with the limited harm to openness and the less than substantial harm to the conservation area and listed building setting, so very special circumstances were not made out.