Land south-west of Back Lane, Rowington, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV35 7BE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site comprises grey belt land and whether the development is inappropriate in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework ("the Framework") and relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the development on character and appearance, residents living conditions, highway safety, flooding and drainage, and biodiversity
• 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 inappropriate development in the Green Belt

What decided it

Insufficient ecological information to rule out harm to protected species (badgers and Great Crested Newts) meant the precautionary principle could not be overcome by the other considerations relied upon.

Significant weight given to the need for traveller sites and to the personal circumstances of the children did not amount to exceptional circumstances sufficient to outweigh the precautionary approach required where the effect of the development on protected species and their habitat could not be established with certainty.