It is established planning policy, at both national and local level, that new development should be permitted outside established settlements in exceptional circumstances only. These circumstances normally relate to an agricultural need. The application site is located in the countryside and there are no exceptional circumstances which justify over-riding the normal planning policies. The proposed development would conflict with the provisions of Paragraph 79 of the NPPF, Policies CS1, CS2, and CS11 of the Charnwood Local Plan (2011-2028) Core Strategy and Saved Policies ST/2, CT/1, CT/2 and CT/14 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan (2004) which promote sustainable development in the countryside.

It has not been demonstrated that the satisfaction of the local planning authority that the proposal would not cause harm to features of biodiversity, protected species or their habitats and that appropriate mitigation can be provided. The proposal is therefore contrary to Paragraph 174 of the NPPF which states that planning decisions should contribute to and enhance the local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity and paragraph 180 which requires that local planning authorities refuse planning permission for developments that do not mitigate the impacts of significant harm to biodiversity. The proposal would also be contrary to Policy CS13 of the Core Strategy (2015) which expects development proposals to consider and take account of the impacts on biodiversity.

The proposed dwelling would be prominently located within the countryside. The local planning authority is of the view that its design, scale and appearance would introduce an urban style which does not adequately respond to its rural or historic context. As such, the proposed dwelling would be visually harmful to the character and appearance of its rural and pastoral surroundings, contrary to Policies CS2, CS11, and CS14 of the Charnwood Local Plan (2011-2028) Core Strategy and Policies ST/2, CT/1 and CT/2 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan, the adopted Supplementary Planning Document on Design (2020) and the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.