Sweetwater Lane, Elberton, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, BS35 3JX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, in terms of access to services and facilities
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• if the proposal is found to be inappropriate development, whether other considerations clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm as to amount to very special circumstances

What decided it

The buildings were incomplete and the stable block had not been used for its intended purpose, so the proposal could not constitute a re-use under paragraph 154(h)(iv) of the Framework and therefore constituted inappropriate development in the Green Belt that was not justified by very special circumstances.

Substantial weight was given to the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and moderate harm to openness, and the unsuitability of the location for residential development due to poor access to services and facilities; the limited benefits of a single dwelling and biodiversity improvements did not comprise very special circumstances to outweigh this harm.