Stablefield Doddinghurst Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, CM15 0SG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, including with regard to the appellants' personal circumstances, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The substantial weight given to harm to Green Belt openness and encroachment into the countryside, combined with insufficient evidence of very special circumstances, outweighed the appellants' personal circumstances.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, harm to openness, encroachment into the countryside, and harm to character and appearance was not clearly outweighed by the appellants' personal circumstances and other considerations, despite those circumstances being of very significant weight.