Semper Fidelis, Wire Mill Lane, Newchapel, Surrey, RH7 6HJ

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, including consideration of openness effects
• whether the site represents an appropriate location for housing, having particular regard to the accessibility of facilities and services
• whether it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that adequate drainage provision would prevail
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety
• 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 necessary to justify the proposal in the Green Belt

What decided it

The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and inappropriateness of the development, combined with moderate harms relating to accessibility, drainage, and highway safety, were not clearly outweighed by the benefits of housing delivery and biodiversity gain.

The benefits of eight additional dwellings and 68.64% biodiversity net gain did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to Green Belt openness and inappropriateness, together with moderate harms to accessibility, drainage provision, and highway safety.