Greystones Chalkpit Lane, BETCHWORTH, RH3 7EZ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal site would be grey belt with particular reference to whether the site's location in the Surrey Hills National Landscape (SHNL) and the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) provides a strong reason for refusing or restricting the development and whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on character and appearance of the area
• If the development is inappropriate, 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 constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would result in substantial harm to its openness and character, with no very special circumstances advanced to outweigh this harm in a context where the local planning authority can demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

The substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt and other harms were not outweighed by other considerations including removal of temporary structures, landscaping benefits, environmental credentials and space standards, particularly given the Council's five-year housing land supply