Accommodation, Oaks Farm Philpot Lane, Chobham, WOKING, GU24 8HE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on openness and the purposes of including land in the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the site is a suitable location for the development having regard to development plan policy and the accessibility to services and facilities
• whether the site is a suitable location for the development having regard to flood risk
• if the proposal is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The combination of the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller sites and the personal circumstances/best interests of the appellant's children clearly outweighed the identified Green Belt and flood risk harms only when the permission was limited to a temporary, personal five-year basis.

the substantial-weight Green Belt harm together with the flood risk and character/accessibility harms were not clearly outweighed by the need and personal circumstances considerations for a permanent permission, but on a temporary and personal basis these considerations did clearly outweigh the harm, so the balance tipped in favour of allowing a five-year personal permission