Land Near Fanshawes Ware Park, Ware, SG12 0DX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to development plan policies and the Framework, including whether the site is suitable for residential development having regard to its location and accessibility of services and facilities
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• whether the site is suitable for residential development having regard to its location, proposed land use, and amount of development, with particular regard to the effect on the setting of nearby listed buildings
• if the proposal would be inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances

What decided it

The site is not in a sustainable location because access to services and facilities would be largely dependent on private cars via an unattractive single-track road without lighting or pavement, and the resulting harm to the Green Belt by inappropriateness and loss of openness is not clearly outweighed by the housing benefits.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by inappropriateness and loss of openness was not clearly outweighed by the modest but meaningful contribution to housing supply, economic and social advantages, and contribution to rural community vitality, notwithstanding the significant shortfall in five-year housing land supply.