The Lensbury, Broom Road, London, TW11 9NU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of nearby occupiers with particular regard to outlook and light
• The effect of the proposal on biodiversity
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including heritage assets
• If the development is inappropriate, whether the 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 is inappropriate development in Metropolitan Open Land that would erode openness and harm heritage assets, and the public benefits do not clearly outweigh this harm to amount to very special circumstances.

The substantial weight given to harm from inappropriateness in MOL, moderate weight to biodiversity harm, moderate weight to living conditions harm, and considerable weight to heritage harm were not outweighed by the modest weight given to sporting and leisure benefits and small weight to economic benefits, so the balance tipped decisively against the proposal.