Land between junctions 7 and 8 of the M56, Tatton, Cheshire

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effects of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes; including the landscape and visual effects of the proposal
• Whether there is a need for the proposed development having regard to the current gaps in Motorway Service Area provision
• The effects of the proposal on highway safety including the effect on the A556
• Whether the proposal would have an unacceptable economic effect on local centres and result in unsustainable patterns of travel
• The effects of the proposed development on heritage assets
• The effects of the proposal on the natural environment
• Whether 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 clear and indisputable strategic need for a Motorway Service Area at this location, combined with the site's grey belt status meaning the development was not inappropriate in the Green Belt, meant the substantial benefits were not outweighed by the identified harms.

The substantial/significant benefits of the MSA (need, safety and welfare, EV charging, economic benefits, design, biodiversity, bus scheme) were found to clearly outweigh the moderate landscape, BMV and heritage harms and, applying revised Green Belt 'grey belt' policy, the Green Belt harm did not require substantial weight, so the balance favoured granting planning permission.