Land at Pumping Station, Guildford Road, Bisley, Surrey, GU24 9EQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be in a suitable location having regard to the development plan
• the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including trees
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• whether the proposal represents an acceptable form of development in flood risk terms
• the effect of the proposal on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA
• whether any harm would be clearly outweighed by other considerations (including the need for gypsy and traveller sites and the personal circumstances of the occupiers of the site) so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The cumulative weight of the significant unmet need for gypsy and traveller pitches, the absence of alternative sites, and the personal circumstances of the family (including the best interests of the children) clearly outweighed the moderate Green Belt and highway safety harm, establishing very special circumstances.

The substantial weight attributed to unmet gypsy/traveller need, absence of a five-year pitch supply, lack of alternative sites, re-use of previously developed land, and the personal circumstances of the occupiers clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm (moderate harm to openness and purposes) and the moderate harm to highway safety, so very special circumstances were found to exist justifying the grant of permission.