®Planning appeal decision
Land at Sandcross Lane, Reigate, RH2 8HH
outline application with all matters reserved, except access, for the phased development of a mixed-use residential-led new Sustainable Urban Extension at land south west of Reigate, comprising up to 300 residential dwellings, including, approximately 65 bed care home; 3 traveller pitches; a replacement scout hut; a retail/commercial use; a country park; and associated open spaces, landscaping and infrastructure. Summary
- Authority
- Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Kean G
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development as a sustainable urban extension (SUE), in the absence of a five-year housing land supply shortfall, should be released for development, in light of Policy MLS1 of the Council's Development Management Plan 2019 and the 'urban area first' strategy in Policy CS6 of the Council's Core Strategy 2014
- Whether adequate provision would be secured for any additional need for health care facilities, scout facility, highway and public transport improvements, and on-site affordable housing
- Whether now is the right time to release the appeal site which forms the majority of allocated site SSW2 for development, and if not, the weight to be given to the benefits occasioned by the proposal
What decided it
The Inspector concluded it was not 'necessary' under DMP Policy MLS1 to release the SUE site now, because the Council could not be shown to have a clear 5YHLS shortfall and the 'urban area first' strategy justified keeping the SUE in reserve.
The very significant benefits of the scheme, including housing and affordable housing delivery, were insufficient to outweigh the substantial and considerable harm caused to the development plan policy for SUE release, so the proposal did not comply with the development plan as a whole and permission was refused.
Framework references: 60, 61, 74, 11, 219
Plan policies cited: Policy MLS1, Policy MLS1.1, Policy MLS1.2, Policy MLS1.3, Policy CS6, Policy CS8, Policy CS13, Policy CS14, Policy CS15, Policy DES4, Policy DES6, Policy SSW2
Judgments cited: East Riding of Yorkshire Council v. Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities [2021] EWHC 3271 (Admin)
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.