Planning appeal decision
Westcoates Clayhill Road, Leigh, Reigate, RH2 8PB
Planning appeal 3260039 at Westcoates Clayhill Road, Leigh, Reigate, RH2 8PB (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 15 September 2021 by Inspector Evans L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
removal of mobile structures and demolition of an open shelter together with a linked barn building conversion of two buildings to 6 No dwellings (C3) with associated access parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Evans L
- Postcode
- RH2 8PB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the local area
- Whether or not a financial contribution to affordable housing should be provided
What decided it
The absence of any contribution towards affordable housing, which is required by Policy CS4 of the Core Strategy for residential developments of 1-9 units in designated rural areas, meant the proposal failed to meet the social objective of the Framework and conflicted with the development plan taken as a whole.
The social and economic benefits of six additional housing units and the environmental benefits of improved Green Belt openness and character were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the failure to provide any affordable housing contribution, which is required by development plan policy and the Framework for schemes of this size in designated rural areas.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS1Policy CS4Policy RUD19
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 133Paragraph 143Paragraph 145Paragraph 146Paragraph 63Paragraph 59Paragraph 68
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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More decisions in Mole Valley District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
- Dismissed20 October 20266013764Priory Lodge, River Lane, Leatherhead, KT22 0AU
- Dismissed19 October 20266011465Land to the South-East of Yarm Way, Leatherhead, KT22 8RQ
- Dismissed16 September 20266008528Henhurst Lodge, Beare Green Road, Beare Green, RH5 4PX
- Allowed11 September 20266012763Fourays, Horsham Road, Capel, Dorking, RH5 5LF
- Dismissed9 September 20266005433Land Opposite Manor House,, Headley, Headley Common, KT18 6NA
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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