The Shoe Box, Siston Lane South Gloucestershire,, Siston, South Gloucestershire, BS30 5LY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the location of the site is suitable for the proposal, having regard to the promotion of alternative modes of transport to the private vehicle
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies, and the effect of the proposal on the openness and the purposes of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on ecology, with particular regard to protected species
• the effect of the proposal on the safety of users of Siston Lane
• the effect of the proposal on water quality and flood risk
• the effect of the proposal on biodiversity
• 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 would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing moderate harm to openness, and this harm together with the failure to demonstrate protection of protected species would not be clearly outweighed by the modest housing benefits, particularly given the unsustainable location dependent on private vehicle use.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt (inappropriateness and loss of openness) and harm to protected species was not clearly outweighed by the small-scale social, economic and environmental benefits of a single dwelling, even though moderate weight was attached to the contribution to housing supply shortfall.