Land at Sarscow Farm, to the west side of Sarscow Lane, Chorley, PR26 8LS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development with regard to: whether the proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework; the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt; whether the amount of development proposed would make efficient use of land; and whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt with no very special circumstances to justify it, as the harm caused by inappropriateness and harm to openness would not be clearly outweighed by the modest housing contribution, particularly given the unsustainable location and failure to make efficient use of land.

The harm caused by inappropriateness and harm to openness of the Green Belt, carrying substantial weight, was not clearly outweighed by the modest contribution to housing supply, as the proposal would be in an unsustainable location and fail to make efficient use of land, such that the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.