Honeygreen Barn Smithbrook, CRANLEIGH, GU6 8LH

Proposed fence relocation and associated change of use

Authority: Waverley Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Cahalane R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the appeal site is grey belt land with particular reference to: a) whether its location within the Surrey Hills National Landscape (NL) provides a strong reason for refusing or restricting the proposed development; and b) purposes (a), (b), and (d) in paragraph 143 of the Framework
whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan polices
the effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
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 grey belt status of the proposal site and the minor degree of harm to openness, when considered against the security and privacy benefits to the occupiers, constitute very special circumstances that justify the inappropriate development.

Framework references: 143, 154, 155, 156, 157, 110, 115

Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy TD1, Policy RE3, Policy DM1, Policy DM4, Policy RE2, Policy DM14

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

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