Land at Little Common Lane, Bletchingley, Surrey, RH1 4LL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of proposed development's location, land use and amount of development on the habitat and character and appearance of the area
• whether or not the appeal site is grey belt land and whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies

What decided it

The undue and unacceptable harm to the woodland habitat and character and appearance of the area, combined with the modest number of dwellings proposed, means the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits even in the context of the Council's severe housing land supply shortfall.

The benefits of delivering 4-5 dwellings in a context of severe housing undersupply (1.92 years) were attributed limited weight; the substantial harm to habitat, character and appearance and conflict with development plan policies was attributed substantial weight; the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.