Land Adjacent to Bridgefoot Cottages , Watling Street , Radlett, Hertfordshire, AL2 2EJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and extent of conflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• the general need for and supply of pitches in the area
• the Appellant's family circumstances and their collective need for accommodation
• 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 required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The combination of the significant unmet need for traveller pitches, lack of a five-year supply, absence of alternative sites and the appellant's personal/family circumstances was sufficient to clearly outweigh the identified Green Belt and character harm only when permission was limited to a temporary five-year period.

The substantial Green Belt harm and moderate character/appearance harm were not clearly outweighed by other considerations for a permanent permission, but when combined with the unmet pitch need, absence of alternatives and family circumstances, those considerations clearly outweighed the harm to justify very special circumstances for a temporary five-year permission