Chatsworth House, Broad Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden, B94 5DP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• 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 character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposal would be a suitable form of development in the location proposed, having regard to relevant development plan policies
• if the proposal is found to be inappropriate development 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 because a domestic garden does not fall within the exception for outdoor recreation in Policy GB7(1)(f), and the harm to the Green Belt cannot be clearly outweighed by other considerations.

The private benefit to the appellant of an increased garden area, the lack of operational development, the visually enclosed nature of the site, and the absence of harm to living conditions, character and appearance, or highways matters were afforded limited or little weight, and did not clearly outweigh the substantial weight given to the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the limited harm to Green Belt purposes.