Perrysfield Farm, Gibbs Brook Lane, Broadham Green Nr Oxted, Surrey, RH8 9PG

the erection of 29 dwellings (including 10 affordable and 10 homes for active older persons) through conversions, demolition and erection of dwellings, plus associated parking, drainage infrastructure, access improvements, new footpath, landscaping and associat ed works

Authority: Tandridge District Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Wyborn D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies
the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
the effect of the proposal on designated heritage assets, including the Broadham Green and Spring Lane Conservation Area, and the Grade II Listed Perrysfield Farmhouse and the Grade II Listed Granary
whether or not the development would be in a suitable location having regard to sustainable transport options
whether or not 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 wide-ranging and substantial public benefits of the scheme (housing delivery, affordable and older persons' housing, design quality, biodiversity net gain and Green Belt openness improvements) clearly outweighed the Green Belt and heritage harm, establishing very special circumstances.

The substantial harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the great-weight heritage harm (low to moderate less than substantial harm overall) were clearly outweighed by the very substantial combined benefits of the scheme, so very special circumstances existed and the proposal amounted to sustainable development under the Framework.

Framework references: 11, 110, 139, 143, 153, 154, 155, 156, 202, 212, 215

Plan policies cited: Policy DP10, Policy DP13, Policy DP20, Policy DP5, Policy CSP12, Policy CSP4, Policy CSP1, Policy CSP2

Judgments cited: Attorney-General ex rel Sutcliffe v Calderdale Borough Council [1983] JPL 310; R. (on the application of Hampshire CC) v Blackbushe Airport Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 398; Methuen-Campbell v Walters [1979] Q.B. 525, [1978] 6 WLUK 124

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.