land west of 301 Bridgnorth Road, Wightwick, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV6 8BW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• The effect on the openness of the Green Belt and the character and appearance of the area
• The effect on designated heritage assets and in particular the setting of 'Wightwick Manor and Gardens', which are Grade I and II Listed, and whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Wightwick Bank Conservation Area
• The effect on ecology and nature conservation
• The effect of the proposed development on highway safety
• Whether sufficient information has been submitted with the application in order to determine the extent to which the site is suitable for development without being at risk from flooding or causing a flood risk elsewhere
• 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 the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The substantial weight to be given to Green Belt harm by reason of inappropriateness and other identified harms (openness, character, heritage, ecology) is not clearly outweighed by the benefits of housing supply and self-build provision, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.

The benefits of housing supply (substantial weight), self-build provision (support from paragraph 70(b)), flood alleviation and open space provision (moderate weight) do not outweigh the substantial weight to be given to Green Belt harm (inappropriateness, loss of openness, encroachment on countryside) and other harms to character and appearance, heritage assets and ecology; the balance tips decisively against the proposal.