Paley Street, Paley Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3JS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• if the proposal would be inappropriate development, the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on ecology
• whether the proposal would include a suitable vehicular access
• whether the proposal would incorporate satisfactory measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• if the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether the 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 development

What decided it

The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and inappropriateness of the development, combined with unacceptable highway safety impacts and failure to demonstrate climate change mitigation, are not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of housing supply contribution, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.

The moderate benefits of housing supply contribution and modest construction and economic benefits do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness, the inappropriateness of the development, unacceptable highway safety impacts, and failure to demonstrate climate change mitigation measures.