Well Hill Nursery, Fountain Farm, Firmingers Road, Orpington, BR6 7QH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development within the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any other relevant development plan policies
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on protected species
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• whether the future occupiers of the proposal would have acceptable living conditions, with particular reference to noise
• if the appeal scheme is found to be inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances needed to justify the development

What decided it

The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to openness and other material harms (protected species, noise, highway safety) that are not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits, and very special circumstances do not exist.

The substantial harm to the Green Belt by inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with substantial harm to protected species and concerns over living conditions and highway safety, was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of housing delivery (six units), removal of commercial buildings, and economic activity, resulting in dismissal.