Land to the Rear of 163 to 187 High Street and East of Rowan Close, Bottisham, CB25 9BJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes
• The effect of the proposal on the setting of a Grade II listed building and Bottisham Conservation Area
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the scheme would address the Council's locational strategy
• Whether there are suitable alternative sites to accommodate the proposed development
• 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 necessary to justify the proposal in the Green Belt

What decided it

The acute and unmet need for extra care housing, for which no suitable alternative sites existed, was found to attract very substantial weight that, together with other benefits, clearly outweighed the Green Belt and other harm identified.

The very substantial weight given to the unmet need for extra care housing, together with significant weight for affordable housing, employment and released housing stock and moderate weight for open space and biodiversity, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm and other identified harms, amounting to very special circumstances and outweighing the conflict with the development plan as a whole.