Former Hall Ing Quarry, Hall Ing Road, Holmfirth, HD3 3FR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on protected species
• Whether, with particular regard to contamination, the site is suitable for housing
• The effect of the proposal on trees and ancient woodland
• Whether the design of the proposed development is of exceptional quality, and meets the location circumstances necessary for approval
• 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 necessary to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing substantial harm to openness, combined with unresolved ecological impacts on protected species, inadequate contamination assessment, and design that fails the exceptional quality test, with benefits that do not clearly outweigh these harms.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt and its openness, combined with harm from unresolved protected species impacts, contamination uncertainty, and failure to meet the exceptional design test, was not clearly outweighed by the modest housing supply contribution and limited economic benefits.