®Planning appeal decision
Abbey Cloisters Abbey Green, Chertsey, KT16 8RB
Planning appeal 3349839 at Abbey Cloisters Abbey Green, Chertsey, KT16 8RB (Runnymede Borough Council) was dismissed on 25 February 2025 by Inspector Conde L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would constitute permitted development under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the GPDO, with particular regard to whether the proposal is suitable having regard to flooding risks in relation to the building (MA.2(2)(c)).
change of use from commercial, business and service (Use Class E) to form 19 residential units (Use Class C3)
- Authority
- Runnymede Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Conde L
- Postcode
- KT16 8RB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would constitute permitted development under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the GPDO, with particular regard to whether the proposal is suitable having regard to flooding risks in relation to the building (MA.2(2)(c))
What decided it
The identified flood evacuation route (Staines Road Route) was found to be unsuitable and impractical for vulnerable occupants in a flood event, particularly due to the requirement to cross the A320 dual carriageway without footway provision and the convoluted nature of the route, meaning the proposal does not satisfy the GPDO Class MA condition regarding suitability having regard to flooding risks.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EE13 of the Runnymede Borough Local Plan 2030
- Judgments
- Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin); Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL 1982]
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
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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.