Normans Hall Chelford Road, Prestbury, MACCLESFIELD, SK10 4PT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the matter alleged in the enforcement notice does not constitute a breach of planning control (ground (c))
• Whether the time given to comply with the requirements is too short (ground (g))
• Whether the development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework
• The effect on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including the land within it
• The effect on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the development would preserve the setting of the Grade II Listed Building, Normans Hall, and any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses
• If the development is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The additional height of the fence above the 2-metre permitted development threshold caused Green Belt, character and appearance, and heritage harm that was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so no very special circumstances existed to justify the fence.

Substantial weight was given to the harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt, together with harm to openness, character and appearance, and the setting of the listed building; these harms were not clearly outweighed by other considerations (including the limited-weight fallback position), so no very special circumstances existed and permission/listed building consent for the fence was refused, while the extensions were allowed as very special circumstances were common ground for those works.