Fairoaks, Cadbury Camp Lane, Clapton-in-Gordano, BS20 7SA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• 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 cumulative increase in gross floor area resulting from the appeal proposal combined with previous extensions and the extant carport permission would be significantly disproportionate to the original building, exceeding the 50% threshold in Policy DM12 and constituting inappropriate development in the Green Belt that causes moderate harm to openness, which is not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits offered.

the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the moderate loss of openness, to which substantial weight was afforded, was not clearly outweighed by the provision of additional living accommodation, limited economic benefits, and the site's status as previously developed land, so very special circumstances did not exist