Maisie Cottage , Bottrells Lane, CHALFONT ST. GILES, HP8 4EQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies including the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt and the effect upon the Chilterns National Landscape
• the effect of the development on biodiversity, in particular the provision of biodiversity net gain
• whether other considerations clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm so as to amount to very special circumstances

What decided it

The substantial extent of the proposed residential curtilage extending into the field would result in harmful domestication of land and loss of openness in the Green Belt and scenic value of the Chilterns National Landscape, and this harm could not be outweighed by other considerations or very special circumstances.

The tilted balance under paragraph 11 of the Framework was not engaged because Footnote 7 applies where Green Belt and National Landscape designations provide strong reasons for refusing development; the harm to the Green Belt and National Landscape and the inability to secure mandatory biodiversity net gain were not outweighed by the social and economic benefits of one additional dwelling, particularly given reliance on private car access.