®Planning appeal decision
ruins of Betchworth Castle, Coach Road, Brockham, Surrey, RH3 7JW
Lowering of ground level along southern edge of schedule by approximately 3m to reveal medieval defensive profile and erection of a dwelling, garden walls, potting shed, and associated works including drilling a water borehole and erection of outhouse and greenhouse. Ground raising to north of schedule to improve access with disposal of excavated material on the wider site
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Ayres J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal 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 proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposal on the historic environment
- Whether the proposal would provide adequate living conditions for occupiers
- Whether the proposal would satisfactorily manage groundwater
- The effect of the proposal on the biodiversity of the site
- Whether any harm 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 very strong harm to the Green Belt through inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with significant harm to the AONB and the setting of the listed building, with no secured public benefits to outweigh these harms, means very special circumstances do not exist to justify the development.
Framework references: 154, 155, 182, 208, 84
Plan policies cited: Policy CS1, Policy CS14, Policy CS15, Policy ENV22, Policy ENV23, Policy ENV24, Policy ENV43, Policy ENV67, Policy ENV15, Policy P2
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.