®Planning appeal decision
Waterland Farm Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, GU6 8JW
Planning appeal 3344272 at Waterland Farm Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, GU6 8JW (Waverley Borough Council) was dismissed on 8 January 2025 by Inspector Szymanski D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development upon protected species.
5 x 2 bed bungalows following demolition of existing buildings
- Authority
- Waverley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Szymanski D
- Postcode
- GU6 8JW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development upon protected species
- whether or not the proposed development would provide satisfactory living conditions for the occupiers of Plots 1 and 4 with particular reference to private outdoor space
- whether or not the proposed development would be consistent with the spatial strategy and in a suitable location for access by non-car modes to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposed development upon highway safety
- the effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The unresolved risk of unacceptable harm to protected species (bats) due to inadequate survey information, combined with the failure to provide satisfactory living conditions for occupiers of Plots 1 and 4, together substantially outweigh the housing supply benefits.
The significant weight of harm from unresolved protected species impacts and inadequate living conditions substantially and demonstrably outweighs the significant weight of benefits from housing supply and limited heritage and character benefits, even with the development plan out of date and housing land supply shortfall.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy NE1 of the Local Plan Part 1 (2018)Policy DM1(g) of the Local Plan Part 2 (2023)Policy DM5 of the Local Plan Part 2Policy SP2 of the Local Plan Part 1Policy ST1 of the Local Plan Part 1Policy DM15 of the Local Plan Part 2Policy DM9 of the Local Plan Part 2Policy TD1 of the Local Plan Part 1Policy RE1 of the Local Plan Part 1Policy DM4a) of the Local Plan Part 2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 192Paragraph 193Paragraph 84Paragraph 109Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 135Paragraph 116Paragraph 212Paragraph 213
- Judgments
- Tesco Stores Limited v Dundee City Council [2012] UKSC 13
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Waverley Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed22 October 20266013698Markwick Farmhouse, Markwick Lane, Godalming, GU8 4BE
- Allowed22 October 20266006447Land At Alfold Farm, Loxwood Road, Alfold, Cranleigh, GU6 8HP
- Dismissed16 October 202660115832 Fir Cottage, Portsmouth Road, Milford, GU8 5DY
- Allowed14 October 20266011929Loxleigh Lodge, The Reeds Road, Frensham, GU10 3BP
- Allowed14 October 20266008502Land West of Loxwood Road, Alfold, GU6 8HR
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.