Woodland Lodge , Frilford Heath, Abingdon , Oxfordshire, OX13 5QG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies, including the effect on irreplaceable and priority habitats
• If inappropriate, the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect on minerals safeguarding area and adjoining quarry
• The effect on highway safety, including parking and turning provision
• The effect on the trees covered by the Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether suitable waste collection and storage facilities would be provided
• Whether suitable foul drainage measures can be accommodated
• Whether there would be access to sustainable travel options
• If inappropriate, 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 proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to openness and purposes, compounded by failure to demonstrate no adverse impacts on irreplaceable ancient woodland and priority habitats, and these harms are not clearly outweighed by the benefits of affordable self-build housing and woodland management.

The benefits of providing an affordable self-build family home and enhanced woodland management were given significant weight but were insufficient to clearly outweigh the substantial harm arising from inappropriate Green Belt development, harm to openness and Green Belt purposes, and other identified harms including highway safety, ancient woodland and priority habitats, trees, minerals safeguarding, character and appearance, and sustainable travel accessibility.