®Planning appeal decision
The Observatory, Old Bury Hill, Westcott, DORKING, RH4 3JU
erection of a 'tree house' for holiday let
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- MacLeod R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- The effect of the proposal on the landscape character and appearance of the area and on the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- The effect of the proposal on the setting of an adjacent listed building in relation to its sense of quiet isolation
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal amounts to inappropriate development in the Green Belt because it does not provide 'appropriate facilities' for outdoor recreation as required by Paragraph 149(b), due to unresolved uncertainties about construction access, servicing arrangements, and impacts on woodland and protected species.
Framework references: 11, 84, 147, 149, 176
Plan policies cited: Policy WNDP5 of the Westcott Neighbourhood Development Plan (2017), Policy ENV22 of the Mole Valley Local Plan (2000), Policy REC19 of the Mole Valley Local Plan (2000), Policy CS13 of the Mole Valley Core Strategy (2009), Policy CS14 of the Mole Valley Core Strategy (2009), Policy P1 of the Surrey Hills Management Plan (2019), Policy P2 of the Surrey Hills Management Plan (2019), Policy P3 of the Surrey Hills Management Plan (2019)
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.