The Old Rectory, Mill Lane, Gratwich, ST14 8SE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed development would accord with the strategy of the Development Plan for new development in the open countryside
• whether the proposed development would make adequate provision for Biodiversity Net Gain
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The proposed building's functional inadequacy for its intended agricultural purposes, particularly the insufficient storage space for hay and machinery and inadequate ventilation, meant it would not be essential to the support and viability of the agricultural business as required by Policy SP8.

the benefits of the proposal were substantially outweighed by the adverse effects of the building's functional shortcomings when assessed against national decision-making policies in the Framework, and the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply