Pumping Station Cottage, Great Warley Street, Brentwood, CM13 3JR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to national and local planning policy
• The effect of the proposal on highway safety
• The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of Cooks Bungalow, with particular regard to noise and disturbance
• 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 proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and the resulting substantial harm is not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so very special circumstances have not been demonstrated.

The substantial weight given to inappropriate development harm in the Green Belt, combined with unacceptable highway safety impacts, harm to character and appearance, and harm to living conditions of neighbours, was not clearly outweighed by the benefits of providing specialist school infrastructure and economic benefits.