St Fiacre Green Street Green Road, Darenth, DA2 7HT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework, including any relevant effects on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area
• Whether the site is a suitable location for residential development, having regard to access to goods and services
• Whether the proposal would provide suitable living conditions for future occupiers
• The effect of the proposal on the supply of protected open space
• The effect of the proposal on protected species, with particular regard to bats
• Whether the proposal makes suitable provision for biodiversity
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety
• Whether the 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 with significant harm to openness, and the benefits do not clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and other identified harms, so very special circumstances have not been demonstrated.

The benefits of providing two additional homes and limited economic benefits were outweighed by substantial harm to Green Belt openness, character and appearance, highway safety, protected species, biodiversity, amenity space, and protected open space, with the site being unsustainably located.