Land on the North West side of Shaw Lane, CARLTON, Barnsley, S71 3HG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect on the character and appearance of the area
• the effect on living conditions of local residents with regard to noise
• highway safety
• whether any 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 required to justify the development

What decided it

The appellant's terminal illness and personal circumstances, combined with the lack of a five-year supply of deliverable Gypsy and Traveller pitches and absence of an alternative site, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm to establish very special circumstances.

The substantial harm from inappropriateness and the limited harm to openness of the Green Belt were clearly outweighed by the combined weight of the appellant's personal circumstances and the unmet need/lack of five-year pitch supply, amounting to very special circumstances justifying grant of a personal planning permission.