45 Homefield Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey, KT12 3RE

addition of two storeys above the existing block of flats to provide two 2-bedroom flats and two 1-bedroom flats with alterations to fenestration, to provide two extra parking spaces and the widening of the cross/over/dropped kerb

Authority: Elmbridge Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Page L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
Affordable housing provision
Living conditions of future occupiers regarding space standards
Living conditions of neighbouring occupiers regarding parking stress
Living conditions of neighbouring occupiers regarding pollution

What decided it

The substantial harm to character and appearance caused by the proposal's excessive scale, combined with the failure to provide required affordable housing contributions, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited housing benefits in the context of the tilted balance.

The cumulative adverse impacts and harm from conflict with the development plan significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited socio-economic benefits and the presumption in favour of sustainable development under NPPF paragraph 11(d)

Framework references: 11, 60, 62, 63, 64

Plan policies cited: Policy DM2, Policy CS17, Policy CS21, Policy DM10, Policy DM7, Policy DM5

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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