North West Turf, Mickering Lane, Aughton, West Lancashire, L39 6SR

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
• Whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development having particular regard to the development plan
• The effect of the proposed development on protected species
• If the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, including whether there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker at the site, so as to amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The appellant failed to demonstrate an essential need for a rural worker to live permanently at or near the site, meaning the substantial Green Belt harm and other harm were not clearly outweighed by other considerations.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, together with additional harm to openness and to protected species, was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations (found to be of only modest weight), so very special circumstances did not exist.