®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Chapel Road, Smallfield, Surrey, RH6 9JH
residential development (Use Class C3) comprising up to 270 dwellings; private parking; landscaping and public open space; S uDS; and flood alleviation measures. (Outline application with all matters reserved save for access)
- Authority
- Tandridge District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Prentis D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- the nature and extent of any economic, social and environmental benefits
What decided it
The severe housing land supply shortfall (1.92 years) and the classification of the site as grey belt land meant the tilted balance applied and the identified benefits (particularly housing, affordable housing and flood alleviation) outweighed the moderate landscape and visual harm.
The significant weight given to housing delivery, affordable housing and flood alleviation, together with moderate weight to the school land and public open space and minor weight to other benefits, outweighed the moderate weight attached to harm to character and appearance, tipping the balance in favour of granting permission despite conflict with the development plan as a whole.
Framework references: 11, 143, 153, 155, 156, 187
Plan policies cited: Policy CSP1, Policy CSP4, Policy CSP12, Policy CSP17, Policy CSP18, Policy CSP21, Policy DP7, Policy DP10, Policy DP11, Policy DP13, Policy DP19, Policy DP20, Policy DP21
Judgments cited: R (on the application of David Tate) v Northumberland County Council [2017] EWHC 664 (Admin); R (on the Application of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority) v Epping Forest District Council [2016] EWCA Civ 404
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.