Smoker Brook Barn, Linnards Lane, Wincham, CW9 6ED

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the appeal scheme would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• Its effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• Whether the appeal site is suitable for new housing having regard to sustainable patterns of new development
• The effect of the proposals on the character and appearance of the area
• Whether the appeal scheme would make an efficient use of land
• If the proposal is inappropriate development, whether the harm by virtue of being inappropriate (and any other harm) is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would result in substantial harm to openness and would introduce housing in an unsustainable location contrary to the development plan, and the moderate weight afforded to housing land supply considerations would be incapable of clearly outweighing these harms.

the substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt and the unacceptable harm to rural character and appearance, together with the principle of introducing development outside a sustainable location, were not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight afforded to the Council's lack of housing land supply and limited economic benefits, such that very special circumstances do not exist