Land North of 6 Bakers Farm Close, Shotgate, Wickford, Essex, SS11 8FR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework including the effect on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• whether the proposed development would harm the living conditions of the occupiers of No 11 Alicia Way with particular regard to privacy
• whether the proposal would have an adverse effect on Protected and Priority species and the integrity of designated Habitats sites
• 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 substantial harm to Green Belt openness and purposes, combined with harm to neighbouring living conditions and unmitigated effects on designated habitat sites, are not clearly outweighed by the modest contribution to housing supply and small economic benefits.

The substantial weight attributed to Green Belt harm (inappropriateness and loss of openness), the significant weight given to privacy harm to No 11 Alicia Way, and the precautionary approach required for unmitigated habitat site effects were not outweighed by the modest weight given to housing supply contribution and small economic benefits, resulting in dismissal.