Paragraph 172 of the NPPF states that “great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty” in an AONB and that the scale of development within those designated areas should be limited.
The CoA concluded that the weight to be given to conserving AONBs set out in paragraph 172 was capable of providing a clear reason for refusing planning permission under paragraph 11(d)(i) of the NPPF (summary from practical law)