1-5 South View Barns, Brickhouse Lane, Newchapel, RH7 6HY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site is grey belt land and whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposed scheme on the setting of the nearby Branford Wells grade II listed building
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupants, with particular regard to the provision of amenity space
• 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 fails to meet the sustainability criterion in Policy GB7(1)(g) of the Framework as the rural location would make future occupiers heavily reliant on private vehicles, and the cumulative harm to the Green Belt, listed building setting, character and appearance, and living conditions cannot be outweighed by the modest benefits offered.

The modest benefits of housing delivery and social and economic benefits, together with limited weight to the fallback position, do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, the moderate harm to the significance of the listed building, the harm to character and appearance, and the unacceptable living conditions for future occupants.