Jose Lomas Farm, Gird Lane, Marple Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 5LP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• whether, having regard to national planning policy that seeks to avoid isolated new homes in the countryside, there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker
• whether the proposed development meets statutory biodiversity net gain objectives
• whether the proposal would make adequate provision for recreation and amenity open space arising from the occupation of the proposed development

What decided it

The failure to demonstrate an essential need for a permanent rural worker's dwelling, combined with the failure to meet statutory biodiversity net gain requirements, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.

The tilted balance applied due to the lack of a five-year housing land supply, but the significant harm from the isolated home conflict with paragraph 84 and the significant weight given to the BNG failure were found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited/moderate benefits (housing, economic, self-build, renewable energy), so the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.