Planning appeal decision
Land Between Grafton and The Haven, Polesden Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6DX
Planning appeal 3272315 at Land Between Grafton and The Haven, Polesden Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6DX (Guildford Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 8 March 2022 by Inspector Shields T, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Gypsy/Traveller status.
the siting of 1 mobile home and the erection of a day room
- Authority
- Guildford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Change of use
- Inspector
- Shields T
- Postcode
- GU23 6DX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Gypsy/Traveller status
- whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect on character and appearance of the area
- the effect on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers
- the effect on TBHSPA
- the effect on highway safety
- whether any harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development
What decided it
The significant/very substantial adverse effect on highway safety from the substandard visibility splays at the shared vehicular access, which alone would outweigh the other considerations in favour of the appeals.
Substantial harm from inappropriateness, limited harm to openness, and very substantial harm to highway safety were not clearly outweighed by the combined weight of other considerations (sustainable location, lack of alternative sites, best interests of the children), so very special circumstances did not exist and the appeals were dismissed.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S2LP Policy S2(3)LP Policy P2LP Policy P2(2)(c)LNP Policy LNPH1LP Policy ID3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 149Paragraph 110
- Judgments
- Julian Wood v SSCLG, Gravesham Borough Council [2015] EWCA Civ 195; Turner v SSCLG & East Dorset Council [2016] EWCA Civ 466; R (on the application of Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) and others) (Respondents) v North Yorkshire County Council (Appellant) [2020] UKSC; Collins v SSCLG [2013] EWCA Civ 1193
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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What an account adds to this decision


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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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