Land at Church Lane, Martin Hussingtree, WR3 8TQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, giving special regard to its effect on the Martin Hussingtree Conservation Area
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including the effect upon the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposed development on highway safety with regard to safe access and egress
• whether adequate information has been submitted to assess the effect of the development on heritage assets
• whether the proposed live/work units are permitted under the terms of Part G of SWDP policy SWDP8 and would be supported by policy SWDP14 of the SWDPR
• whether the proposed development would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers, with regard to the provision of private amenity space
• whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to openness and less than substantial but considerable harm to the conservation area, and the modest public benefits do not clearly outweigh this harm to constitute very special circumstances.

The modest benefits of housing delivery, employment use, and environmental improvements do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness, the considerable harm to the conservation area, and highway safety concerns, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the inappropriate development.