®Planning appeal decision
Land Southwest of Grace Land, Molember Road, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9NH
detached two-storey house with ancillary parking
- Authority
- Elmbridge Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Perrins N
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the character and appearance of the area
- whether the proposed development would increase the risk of flooding elsewhere
- the density of development, and whether it would be an efficient use of land
- Parking provision
What decided it
The proposal would adversely affect adjacent flood defences by restricting access for essential maintenance and potentially damaging ground anchors, creating unacceptable flood risk that engages the exception in NPPF paragraph 11 footnote 7 and prevents the presumption in favour of sustainable development from applying.
Although the development plan is out of date and the Council cannot demonstrate a 4-year housing land supply, the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply because the proposal poses unacceptable flood risk, which is a specific exception under NPPF paragraph 11 footnote 7; the significant harm to character and appearance and the considerable weight given to flood risk concerns outweigh any housing benefits.
Framework references: 11, 165, 226
Plan policies cited: CS Policy CS17, CS Policy CS26, Policy DM2, Policy DM7
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.