Kipling Farm, Kipling Avenue, Tilbury, Essex, RM18 8HF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• The effects of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the proposal could reasonably avoid other harmful effects, with particular regard to the living conditions of its future occupiers, neighbouring occupiers and the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the proposal would make appropriate contributions to off-site infrastructure
• 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 substantial harm to Green Belt openness caused by the introduction of 30 residential units, to which the Framework requires substantial weight, was not clearly outweighed by the housing benefits, even accounting for the Council's severe housing land supply shortfall.

The benefits of housing delivery (30 homes, 50% affordable, on settlement edge with good accessibility) were given significant weight but did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness and the harm from inappropriateness, to which substantial weight was required.