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Planning appeal decision

Allowed14 February 20233252200

Land off Green Lane, Outwood, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 5QR

the change of use of land for the stationing of caravans for residential purposes for 2 Gypsy pitches, together with the formation of a hardstanding and utility/day rooms ancillary to that use and erection of a stable

Authority
Tandridge District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector
Murray D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect on the openness of the Green Belt
  • The effect on the character and appearance of the area
  • The effect on biodiversity
  • The need for traveller sites locally and whether the Council can demonstrate a five year supply of new sites
  • The intended occupiers' personal circumstances including the best interests of any children
  • Whether the harm due to inappropriateness, and any other harm is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to constitute very special circumstances

What decided it

The unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, the lack of alternative sites, and the Council's continuing failure to allocate sites clearly outweighed the Green Belt and landscape harm, justifying very special circumstances for a temporary permission.

The harm from inappropriate development and limited to moderate harm to Green Belt openness, together with limited landscape harm, was outweighed by the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller sites, the absence of alternative sites and the Council's continuing policy failure, tipping the balance in favour of a temporary five-year permission rather than a permanent one.

Framework references: 149, 150, 174

Plan policies cited: Policy CSP9, Policy DP10, Policy CSP21

Judgments cited: Smith v SSHCLG & Others [2022] EWCA Civ 1391

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every other appeal around it, with the full reasoning summary, the letter held on file, and the case law it applies.