®Planning appeal decision
The Orchard , Horsham Road, Capel, Surrey, RH5 5JH
Planning appeal 3319291 at The Orchard , Horsham Road, Capel, Surrey, RH5 5JH (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 24 January 2024 by Inspector Buchanan R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposal having regard to relevant development plan policies.
demolition of existing bungalow and garage and erection of 3 No. detached bungalows
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Buchanan R
- Postcode
- RH5 5JH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposal having regard to relevant development plan policies
- its effect on the character or appearance of the area
- its effect on the internal living conditions of future occupiers with regard to privacy
- whether there would be a suitable means of vehicular access
What decided it
The individually important and cumulatively compelling adverse social and environmental impacts—unsuitable location in countryside, unacceptable harm to character and appearance, unsatisfactory living conditions for occupants, and lack of suitable vehicular access—significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest housing benefits, such that the tilted balance did not apply.
The modest social, economic and environmental benefits of three energy-efficient market bungalows contributing to housing supply were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the cumulatively compelling adverse impacts of unsuitable countryside location, unacceptable harm to character and appearance, unsatisfactory living conditions, and lack of suitable vehicular access, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CS Policy CS1CS Policy CS2CS Policy CS14LP saved Policy ENV3LP saved Policy RUD8LP saved Policy MOV2LP saved Policy ENV22LP saved Policy ENV23LP saved Policy ENV24
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 12
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Mole Valley District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Dismissed19 October 20266011465Land to the South-East of Yarm Way, Leatherhead, KT22 8RQ
- Dismissed16 October 20266010203High Bank,, Mill Hill Lane, Betchworth, RH3 7LS
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.