®Planning appeal decision
Land East of Vicarage Road, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 7QF
an Integrated Retirement Community to consist of: a) a full planning application for 38 extra care and 28 close care units (Use Class C2), with an on-site village centre to include a medical facility, means of access off Vicarage Road, associated infrastructure, landscape buffer and open space; b) an outline planning application for a care home (up to 60 beds) and up to 98 extra care units (Use Class C2), landscaping and open space, parking, infrastructure, and internal access roads
- Authority
- Spelthorne Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- other · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Butcher H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and Green Belt purposes
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The very substantial weight attributed to the clear and pressing need for housing-with-care and care home provision was sufficient, combined with other benefits, to clearly outweigh the significant Green Belt harm and establish very special circumstances.
The very substantial weight of the housing-with-care and care home need, together with moderate weight from other benefits, clearly outweighed the significant Green Belt harm (given substantial weight), amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development.
Framework references: 11, 56, 57, 153, 154, 155
Plan policies cited: Policy GB1, Policy EN1a), Policy EN8, Policy HO3
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.