London Hoist Ltd, 43 London Road, Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9PH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the development on the setting of listed buildings and non-designated heritage assets
• The effect on employment and the construction industry
• Whether any 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 substantial harm to the Green Belt from inappropriateness and loss of openness, together with harm to character and appearance and the heritage asset, was not clearly outweighed by the employment and construction industry benefits, so very special circumstances did not exist.

substantial weight against Green Belt harm (inappropriateness and openness), significant weight against harm to character and appearance, and moderate weight against heritage harm were not clearly outweighed by significant weight in favour of employment and construction industry benefits, so the appeal was dismissed