42 Station Road, STOKE D'ABERNON, Surrey, KT11 3BN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed dormer and external staircase on the character and appearance of the host building and area
• the effect of the proposed balcony on the living conditions of the occupiers of the first floor flat, having regard to the impact of any loss of light
• whether or not the scheme would represent an acceptable form of development having regard to any flood risk and the provisions of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework)
• whether or not the development would make suitable provision for any requirements for affordable housing
• the effect of the development on the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (the SPA)

What decided it

The failure of the flood risk sequential test and the unresolved likely significant adverse effect on the Thames Basin Heaths SPA (due to the absence of a secured SAMM contribution) provided clear reasons for refusal that disengaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

the limited to moderate benefits of the additional housing unit were outweighed by the harms to character and appearance, flood risk, affordable housing provision and the SPA, which weighed very substantially against the proposal