1 Mount Zion, Castle Lane, Hadleigh, SS7 2AR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area and the significance of 1 and 2 Mount Zion as a non designated heritage asset
• the effect of the proposal on the supply of housing
• if the development would be 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 it

What decided it

The substantial harm to the Green Belt through inappropriate development and harm to openness, combined with significant harm to character and appearance, harm to the non-designated heritage asset, and adverse effect on housing supply, were not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of the proposal.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness, together with significant weight to the adverse effect on housing supply and significant harm to character and appearance and harm to the non-designated heritage asset, was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of providing a four-bedroom dwelling and bringing the site back into active residential use, and therefore very special circumstances did not exist to justify the development.