Land at Graveley Lane and to the East of Great Wymondley, Hertfordshire

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposed development on the Green Belt.
• The implications of the proposal for meeting the challenge of climate change.
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
• The effect of the proposed development on habitats and biodiversity.
• The effect of the proposal on heritage assets.
• Whether the proposal would be consistent with policies and guidance concerning the use of agricultural land.
• Whether the proposed development would be consistent with the Development Plan and other relevant policies.
• The effect of other considerations on the overall planning balance.

What decided it

The Secretary of State's reassessment of the weight to be given to renewable energy benefits (substantial rather than significant) and his finding of only moderate (rather than serious) harm to the setting of Wymondley Priory tipped the Green Belt 'very special circumstances' balance and the heritage balance in favour of granting permission.

Substantial weight given to renewable energy generation, together with significant weight to biodiversity net gain and deliverability, and moderate/limited weight to flood risk betterment, permissive footpaths, reversibility and economic benefits, clearly outweighed the substantial weight attached to Green Belt harm, the great weight attached to heritage harm, and the significant/considerable weight attached to landscape and visual harm, such that very special circumstances existed and the Framework's heritage balance was favourable, tipping the decision in favour of granting planning permission.