Land Adjacent to Harlow Road, Near Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5QF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effects of the development on the Green Belt having regard to its openness and purpose
• The loss of farmland for food production
• The overall scheme merits applicable including whether the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it, as well as recognition of all harms and benefits in the planning balance

What decided it

The substantial benefits of clean, secure renewable energy generation were found to constitute very special circumstances clearly outweighing the moderate Green Belt harm.

The combined scheme benefits, particularly the clean and secure renewable energy generation, biodiversity net gain and landscaping legacy, were found to amount to very special circumstances that clearly outweighed the moderate Green Belt harm, the limited farmland/food production harm, the less than substantial heritage harm, and other identified harms, so the appeal was allowed despite conflict with the development plan.