Land Adjacent to - 6 Blacknest Cottages Chiddingfold Road, Dunsfold, Godalming, GU8 4PB

Planning appeal 3366530 at Land Adjacent to - 6 Blacknest Cottages Chiddingfold Road, Dunsfold, Godalming, GU8 4PB (Waverley Borough Council) was dismissed on 24 October 2025 by Inspector Heppell J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on ancient woodland.

erection of a pair of 3 bedroom semi-detached two storey dwellings with associated off-street parking and including formation of vehicular access on to existing track

Authority: Waverley Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Other minor developments
Inspector: Heppell J
Postcode: GU8 4PB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on ancient woodland
whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development in respect of its access to services and facilities
the effect of the proposal on protected species with particular reference to badgers, great crested newts and hazel dormice

What decided it

The risk of significant harm to ancient woodland from the proposal, which is an irreplaceable habitat protected by Framework paragraph 193(c), provides a strong reason for refusal that outweighs the housing benefits.

The moderate positive weight given to housing delivery and economic benefits on previously developed land did not outweigh the significant negative weight attributed to the risk of harm to ancient woodland and the moderate negative weight of unsustainable location.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy NE2Policy NE1Policy SP2Policy DM15
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 193Paragraph 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 Waverley Borough Council

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

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Allowed14 October 20266011929
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Allowed14 October 20266008502
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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.