Joldwynds, Holmbury St. Mary, DORKING, RH5 6NS

Change of use of existing building to holiday let / ancillary guest accommodation including changes to window positioning

Authority: Mole Valley District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Lawrence R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it
whether the proposal would preserve the setting of the Listed Building, and the effect on its significance
whether the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape character and appearance of the area
whether sufficient provision has been made for parking and manoeuvring vehicles within the site
whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the development

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt causing a loss of openness, combined with less than substantial harm to the listed building's significance and harm to the National Landscape character, which are not outweighed by the modest economic benefits claimed.

Framework references: 142, 143, 152, 153, 154, 155, 202

Plan policies cited: CS1, CS13, ENV4, ENV43, MOV2, MOV5, P1, P2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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