®Planning appeal decision
Land to the Rear of Elderslie, Stane Street, Ockley, Surrey, RH5 5TD
Planning appeal 3335960 at Land to the Rear of Elderslie, Stane Street, Ockley, Surrey, RH5 5TD (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 18 June 2024 by Inspector Nicholls H, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the scale and location of the development accords with the development plan.
full planning application for the erection of 42 residential dwellings (Class C3) with formation of a new vehicular access, associated landscaping, drainage and parking
- Authority
- Mole Valley District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Nicholls H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the scale and location of the development accords with the development plan
- the effects of the proposal on the character and appearance of site and surrounding area
- the effects of the proposal on the significance of designated heritage assets: Ockley Conservation Area, Elderslie and Orchard Cottage
- whether or not the Council can demonstrate an adequate supply of housing land
What decided it
The cumulative less than substantial heritage harm to Elderslie, Ockley Conservation Area and Orchard Cottage was not outweighed by the public benefits, disengaging the tilted balance and resulting in conflict with the development plan as a whole.
The substantial weight given to housing delivery (including 17 affordable dwellings) and lesser benefits (bus service contribution, dropped kerbs, economic benefits) did not outweigh the less than substantial heritage harm to Elderslie, the Conservation Area and Orchard Cottage, nor the harm to landscape character, and the balance tipped against the scheme.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS1Policy CS2Policy CS13Policy CS14Policy ENV3Policy ENV22Policy ENV23Policy ENV39Policy ENV43Policy MOV2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 208
- Judgments
- Wheatcroft Ltd V SSE [1982]; Holborn Studios Ltd v LBH [2017] EWHC 2823
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
- Dismissed16 October 20266010203High Bank,, Mill Hill Lane, Betchworth, RH3 7LS
- Allowed7 May 20263375003Land East of Tranquil House , Old Reigate Road, Betchworth, Surrey, RH3 7DR
- Dismissed9 March 20266002245Gadbrook Cottage, Little Abbots Farm, Snowerhill Road, Betchworth, Surrey, RH3 7AQ
- Dismissed5 January 20263374065The Barn, Highlands Farm, Headley Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8QE
- Allowed16 December 20253372913Fourays, Horsham Road, Capel, Dorking, RH5 5LF
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.