Land East of Longridge, Knutsford, WA16 8PP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies, including any relevant effects on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it
• The effect of the proposal on biodiversity of the area
• The effect of the proposal on the provision of protected open space
• Whether the proposal would be adequately integrated with existing development in Longridge
• The effect of the proposal on transport networks
• 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 benefits of delivering the allocated housing, affordable housing and associated community and biodiversity gains were found to outweigh the identified harm to the Local Wildlife Site, satisfying the exception test in Policy SE3 and leading to overall accordance with the development plan.

The very substantial and significant benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing, economic benefits, biodiversity net gain and public open space access outweighed the significant residual harm to the Local Wildlife Site, so the reasons for and benefits of the proposal outweighed its adverse impact under Policy SE3.