Land to the South of H/1:B and to the East of H/1:C, Babraham Road, Sawston Cambridge, CB22 3DQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the appeal site is in an acceptable location having regard to local and national policies
• the effect of the proposal on the best and most versatile agricultural land
• if it is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances needed to justify the development

What decided it

The absence of a mechanism to secure the self-build units as affordable housing in perpetuity, combined with the substantial harm to Green Belt openness and inappropriateness of the development, means the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal do not exist.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, together with conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy and loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, outweighs the benefits of housing supply, self-build provision, economic benefits and community facilities, particularly given the lack of a secured mechanism for affordable housing delivery.