246 Swallow Street, Iver, SL0 0HT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal scheme would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024)(the Framework) and any relevant development plan policies
• If the appeal scheme is inappropriate development in the Green Belt, the effect of it on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect of the appeal scheme on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the development on protected species
• Whether the development would deliver biodiversity net gain
• If the development 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 required to justify the appeal scheme

What decided it

The appellant failed to demonstrate on the balance of probabilities that the buildings and works were substantially completed before the relevant immunity date, and the identified Green Belt, character and biodiversity harms were not clearly outweighed by other considerations.

The modest harm to Green Belt openness, harm to character and appearance, and harm to protected species/biodiversity were not clearly outweighed by the other considerations advanced (limited/very limited weight), so very special circumstances did not exist.