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Dismissed10 January 20253344632

Land Opposite Four Oaks, Cathill Lane, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5QP

Planning appeal 3344632 at Land Opposite Four Oaks, Cathill Lane, Ockley, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5QP (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 10 January 2025 by Inspector Goldberg V, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside and the Area of Great Landscape Value.

‘erection of 1 no. dwelling following demolition of existing non-agricultural buildings’

Authority
Mole Valley District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Goldberg V
Postcode
RH5 5QP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside and the Area of Great Landscape Value
  • biodiversity of the site
  • the living conditions of future occupiers in respect of refuse collections

What decided it

The significant and demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and Area of Great Landscape Value, combined with unresolved biodiversity concerns, outweighs the modest housing benefit even under the tilted balance test of paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.

The harm to character and appearance of the countryside and AGLV and potential harm to protected species significantly and demonstrably outweighs the modest but useful contribution of one additional dwelling when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, despite the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy S1Policy EN2Policy EN4Policy EN8Policy EN9
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 73

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Mole Valley District Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Allowed27 October 20266010634
    The Garden House, School Lane, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6EW
  2. Dismissed27 October 20266003694
    1 Ivy House Cottages, Partridge Lane, Newdigate, RH5 5BU
  3. Dismissed20 October 20266013764
    Priory Lodge, River Lane, Leatherhead, KT22 0AU
  4. Dismissed19 October 20266011465
    Land to the South-East of Yarm Way, Leatherhead, KT22 8RQ
  5. Dismissed16 October 20266010203
    High Bank,, Mill Hill Lane, Betchworth, RH3 7LS

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.