Land adj to Foxmead, Horsham Road, Holmwood, DORKING, RH5 4JX

the erection of a detached 3 bedroom chalet style dwelling, with associated parking and access from existing drive

Authority: Mole Valley District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Evans J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Metropolitan 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, having particular regard to the effect on the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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 to justify the proposal

What decided it

The proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm to its openness and significant harm to the character and appearance of the AONB, and the modest benefits of providing one additional dwelling do not constitute very special circumstances to justify the scheme.

The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt and the great weight required to conserve the AONB outweighed the modest benefit of providing one additional dwelling and modest benefits to local services and accessibility, resulting in dismissal.

Framework references: 11, 149, 150

Plan policies cited: CS1, CS2, CS13, ENV4

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

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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