Betchworth Works, Ifield Road, Charlwood, HORLEY, Surrey, RH6 0DX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the appeal site is grey belt land with particular reference to purposes (a), (b), and (d) in paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework
• whether the proposal is inappropriate development for the purposes of the Framework and the development plan
• the effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
• whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The failure to secure the proposed affordable housing through a legal agreement means the development cannot benefit from the Framework exception for limited affordable housing and therefore constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which cannot be justified by the other considerations advanced.

The benefits of providing three affordable dwellings to meet identified local need and efficient use of land near services were afforded limited weight and do not clearly outweigh the substantial weight to be attached to harm to the Green Belt (inappropriate development and moderate loss of openness) and harm to character and appearance.