Land South of Birchanger Lane , Birchanger Lane , Birchanger , Bishops Stortford

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the setting and significance of the Grade II listed building 'Barn Approximately 210 Yards East of Birchanger Hall, Birchanger Lane'
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the purposes of the Green Belt
• if the development would be inappropriate, whether the harm to the Green Belt 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 harm to the significance of the listed building through development within its setting, combined with the substantial harm to Green Belt openness from inappropriate development, was not clearly outweighed by the housing benefits and other considerations.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness, together with less than substantial harm to the listed building, was not clearly outweighed by the substantial weight afforded to housing provision and the moderate weight given to economic, social and ecological benefits, resulting in the appeal being dismissed.