Pitch 1, The Ranch, Redwings Road, Pembury, TN2 4AD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt and purposes of including land in the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the development impacts biodiversity on the Land, including in relation to protected species
• the effect of the development on the quality and potential yield of groundwater
• 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 unresolved and unacceptable risk to groundwater and the public drinking water supply from Pembury Reservoir, combined with the harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the High Weald National Landscape, meant that very special circumstances to justify the development did not exist.

the harm by reason of inappropriateness in the Green Belt, harm to the National Landscape, biodiversity harm and the risk to public water supply were not clearly outweighed by the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, lack of alternative sites, personal circumstances and the best interests of the children on site, so very special circumstances did not exist