City of London Freemens School, Park Lane , Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1ET

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including with regard to the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on the character of the landscape
• The effect of the proposal on the significance of Ashtead Park Registered Park and Garden and Rookery Hill Bridge, a Grade II listed building
• The effect of the proposal on protected species
• Whether or not there would be adequate provision for biodiversity net gain
• If the proposal would be inappropriate, 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 within the Green Belt

What decided it

The considerable health and social benefits arising from the provision of facilities for sport, recreation and community use, combined with support for community cohesion and the absence of suitable alternative locations, clearly outweighed the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the limited harm to landscape character and heritage assets.