®Planning appeal decision
Graham Powell Consultants, 57 South Street, Dorking, RH4 2JX
Planning appeal 3323730 at Graham Powell Consultants, 57 South Street, Dorking, RH4 2JX (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 3 July 2024 by Inspector Buchanan R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of (i) existing occupants of Nos.45-55 South Street, including Lyndon Court, with regard to outlook and natural light; and (ii) future occupants of units 1 and 2, with regard to outlook, noise and light pollution.
demolition of existing offices and erection of 3 family dwellings and associated works
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Buchanan R
- Postcode
- RH4 2JX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of (i) existing occupants of Nos.45-55 South Street, including Lyndon Court, with regard to outlook and natural light; and (ii) future occupants of units 1 and 2, with regard to outlook, noise and light pollution
- its effect on the character or appearance of the immediate area
What decided it
The unacceptable material harm to the living conditions of existing and future occupants, particularly the overbearing effect on neighbouring residents and the inadequate living environment for future occupants due to proximity to the car park, substantially and demonstrably outweighed the moderate housing benefits even under the tilted balance.
The moderate benefits of delivering three family dwellings in a town centre location and contributing to housing supply were substantially outweighed by the substantial harm to the living conditions of existing and future occupants, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits and the tilted balance did not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ENV22Policy ENV23Policy ENV24Policy CS14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 8
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
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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.