®Planning appeal decision
66 Beechwood Road, CATERHAM, CR3 6NB
demolition of existing dwellings and the erection of a residential block containing 12 No. flats with parking and cycle store within the lower ground floor
- Authority
- Tandridge District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Cliff D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect upon the character and appearance of the area
- Whether the proposal would provide for a satisfactory living environment for future residents
- The effect upon biodiversity
- The effect upon the living conditions of the occupiers of the neighbouring property at 68A Beechwood Road, with particular regard to sunlight
What decided it
The absence of an up-to-date bat survey and inability to rule out the presence of European protected species, combined with moderate harm to character and appearance and living conditions, meant the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the housing supply benefits even under the tilted balance.
The significant weight given to housing delivery (12 new dwellings in a location with only 1.71 years' supply) was outweighed by considerable weight given to potential adverse effects on protected bat species, moderate harm to character and appearance, and moderate harm to the living environment of future residents, resulting in the conclusion that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.
Framework references: 11, 174, 180
Plan policies cited: Policy DP7, Policy DP8, Policy DP19, Policy CSP17, Policy CSP18
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.