Land off Hinckley Road , Sapcote, Leicestershire, LE9 4LG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in a Local Green Space having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Local Green Space
• the effect of the proposal on the provision of open space
• whether the appeal site would be an appropriate location for the proposal with regards to the Council's spatial strategy for the area
• whether the proposal would make appropriate provision for biodiversity net gain
• on the basis that the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances required to justify the development

What decided it

The substantial harm to the openness of the designated Local Green Space by reason of inappropriateness is not clearly outweighed by the benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision, such that very special circumstances do not exist.

The considerable benefits of housing delivery and self-build provision would not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Local Green Space and its openness, and the limited harm to open space provision.