Pool House , Clewshaw Lane, Birmingham, B38 0ED

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies and its effect upon openness and reasons for including land within it
• Whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for housing with regard to local and national policies
• If the proposed development constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, 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 proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with harm to openness that cannot be assessed at permission in principle stage, and the site is in an unsuitable location contrary to the settlement hierarchy, such that the very special circumstances needed to justify the development do not exist.

The substantial weight to be given to the totality of harm to the Green Belt and harm to the Council's housing strategy designed to promote sustainable patterns of development was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, including the moderate weight of housing land supply shortfall and limited economic and social benefits from a single dwelling.