Land at Barnet Lane, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2HB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt, and on the purposes of the Green Belt as set out in the NPPF
• the effect of the proposed development on the landscape, character and appearance of the surrounding area
• whether the appeal proposal would give rise to any other harm
• an assessment of the weight to be given to the benefits of the proposed development
• the extent to which any submitted planning obligations and/or planning conditions would address the impacts of the proposed development
• 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 very substantial weight attributable to the delivery of market and affordable housing, in the context of a severe 1.36-year housing land supply shortfall, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm and moderate landscape harm, establishing very special circumstances.

The very substantial benefits of market and affordable housing delivery, together with substantial weight to self-build provision and moderate/limited weight to other benefits, clearly outweighed the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness plus moderate landscape/character harm, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the grant of permission.