Land east of Woodcock Hill, Felbridge, RH19 2RD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site comprises grey belt land, with particular regard to the effect of the proposal upon Flood Risk and Ancient Woodland
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the Framework and development plan policies
• whether the 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 revised Framework's introduction of the 'grey belt' concept and paragraph 155 criteria for residential development, combined with the Council's inability to demonstrate five-year housing land supply and the more harmful fallback position of the Class Q scheme, rendered the proposals not inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The conflict with development plan policy DP10 was outweighed by the material considerations of the Framework, particularly the grey belt status of the site, the demonstrable housing shortfall (1.92 years supply), and the benefits of the proposals compared to the more harmful fallback Class Q scheme, such that the proposals were suitable for the site.