Land at Foxley Orchard, Ascot Road, Holyport, SL6 3LD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site is grey belt land with particular reference to whether policies in the National Planning Policy Framework related to areas at risk of flooding provide a strong reason for refusing or restricting the proposed development
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
• if the proposal is found to be inappropriate development, 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 surface water flood risk at the site access, which would require future occupiers to transit through flood waters in severe rainfall events, provides a strong reason for refusing the development under Framework flood risk policies, and the substantial harm to Green Belt openness cannot be clearly outweighed by housing need and self-build benefits.

The significant positive weight afforded to housing need, self-build provision, and associated economic benefits does not clearly outweigh the substantial weight given to harm to Green Belt openness and the significant weight given to conflict with Framework flood risk policies.