Land at the Rear of Home Farm, Dunstable Road, Tilsworth, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9PU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
• The effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt and Green Belt purposes.
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.
• The effect of the development on the integrity of the Chiltern Beechwood Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which includes Ashridge Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (Appeal A only).
• The general need for and supply of gypsy and traveller sites in the area (Appeal A only).
• The accommodation needs of the occupiers and their personal circumstances (Appeal A only).
• The weight to be given to other identified considerations.
• Planning and Green Belt balance.

What decided it

The unresolved conflict with the Habitats Regulations, because adverse effects on the integrity of the Chiltern Beechwoods SAC could not be excluded in the absence of secured mitigation, meant permission could not be granted regardless of the Green Belt balance.

Substantial Green Belt harm and moderate harm to character and appearance were weighed against significant weight attributed to unmet gypsy and traveller need, lack of alternative sites, and personal circumstances, but the balance was rendered moot because the unresolved SAC/Habitats Regulations conflict independently precluded the grant of permission.