®Planning appeal decision
Tulip Trees Church Road, St. Johns, WOKING, GU21 7QN
the subdivision of plot and erection of a detached dwelling and associated parking, access and landscaping
- Authority
- Woking Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Redford R
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 it has upon the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on protected species and habitats including the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- if the development is inappropriate whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstance necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The totality of harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and harm to openness, combined with inadequately evidenced mitigation for harm to reptiles, is not clearly outweighed by the modest benefits of housing delivery and design quality.
The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt and harm to protected species was not clearly outweighed by the modest weight afforded to housing supply, design quality, and personal circumstances, and therefore very special circumstances do not exist.
Framework references: 11, 80, 134, 137, 147, 149
Plan policies cited: Policy CS6, Policy CS7, Policy CS8, Policy CS21, Policy DM13, Policy DM3, Policy NRM6
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.