®Planning appeal decision
Land at Catherine Drive, Sunbury on. Thames, TW16 7TE
Planning appeal 3369002 at Land at Catherine Drive, Sunbury on. Thames, TW16 7TE (Spelthorne Borough Council) was dismissed on 12 December 2025 by Inspector Miles H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including with regard to trees.
erection of 6 no. two-storey affordable dwellings grouped into two buildings, with the creation of an enhanced public amenity space and retention of urban open land and associated parking provision
- Authority
- Spelthorne Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Miles H
- Postcode
- TW16 7TF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including with regard to trees
- the effect of the proposed development on the provision of open space in the area
- whether the site would be suitable for its proposed use taking into account risks from contamination
What decided it
The significant and permanent harm to the character and appearance of the area and the loss of important public open space significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of affordable housing delivery, even under the tilted balance.
The moderate benefits of six affordable housing units in a sustainable location were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance and the loss of important public open space, applying the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d).
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EN1Policy EN7Policy EN4Policy EN15Policy HO3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Spelthorne Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Allowed25 September 20266007619Eden Grove, 17-51 London Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4EX
- Dismissed16 September 202660105687 Caledonia Road, Stanwell, Staines-upon-Thames, TW19 7TD
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.