®Planning appeal decision
Land East of Vicarage Road, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 7QF
Planning appeal 3342657 at Land East of Vicarage Road, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 7QF (Spelthorne Borough Council) was allowed on 22 November 2024 by Inspector Butcher H, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
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
- Postcode
- TW16 7LB
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.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GB1Policy EN1a)Policy EN8Policy HO3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 56Paragraph 57Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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 Spelthorne Borough Council
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- Allowed8 June 202660083112 Cumberland Road, Ashford, TW15 3BX
- Notice varied and upheld13 May 20263345013Land to the South of Bedfont Road, Stanwell, Staines, TW19 7LE
- Dismissed16 April 2026600224218 Wellington Road, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 3RJ
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.