Cuckoo Farm , Southam Lane , Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3PE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including in respect of the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether an agricultural functional justification for the proposal is necessary and, if so, whether it has been demonstrated
• whether the proposal makes adequate provision for energy efficiency
• the effect of the proposal on protected species, in particular bats
• if the proposal is inappropriate, whether the 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 would cause substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and reduction in openness, and would harm character and appearance, agricultural worker accommodation, energy efficiency and protected species, with benefits that do not clearly outweigh these harms and therefore no very special circumstances exist to justify it.