Rose Cottage, Goosedale Lane, Bestwood Village, NOTTINGHAM, Nottinghamshire, NG6 8UJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to relevant development plan policies, the provisions of the Framework and the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the proposal represents a suitable location for housing
• If the proposal would be 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 proposal does not amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt because it satisfies the exception at NPPF paragraph 154(h)(iv) by reusing a building of permanent and substantial construction without adversely affecting openness, and the dwelling would not be isolated in physical terms.

The environmental benefit of reusing an existing building rather than constructing new outweighed the general Framework approach to locate housing where most accessible to services, as the site is a short drive to local services and car use would have low environmental impact.