Hogs Back Farm Yard, Monkshatch, Compton, GU3 1DL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, having regard to the Surrey Hills National Landscape
• whether the site is a suitable location for dwellings, having regard to its access to local services and facilities
• whether biodiversity net gain could be achieved, having regard to whether the self-build custom build exemption would apply
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
• if the development is inappropriate in the Green Belt, 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 required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt, together with the harm to the Surrey Hills National Landscape and the Thames Basin Heaths SPA, was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations, so very special circumstances did not exist.

the substantial weight attributed to Green Belt, SHNL and SPA harm, together with considerable weight given to the other identified harms, was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations, which carried substantial weight, so the benefits of the proposal were substantially outweighed by the harms