1 The Stables, Rookery Drive, Westcott, Dorking, RH4 3LQ

Planning appeal 3353267 at 1 The Stables, Rookery Drive, Westcott, Dorking, RH4 3LQ (Mole Valley District Council) was dismissed on 6 May 2025 by Inspector Bromley N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.

erection of detached garage

Authority: Mole Valley District Council
Appeal type: householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Householder developments
Inspector: Bromley N
Postcode: RH4 3LQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
whether the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the Surrey Hills National Landscape
if the appeal scheme is found to be inappropriate development, whether 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 scheme

What decided it

The proposal's location on undeveloped land at considerable distance from the main dwelling, combined with its standalone appearance and harm to Green Belt openness and the Surrey Hills National Landscape, could not be justified by very special circumstances.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy EN1Policy EN8
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 154Paragraph 153Paragraph 11

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Mole Valley District Council

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

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Allowed11 September 20266012763
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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.