®Planning appeal decision
Land to the West of 35 Mincing Lane, Chobham, Woking, Surrey, GU24 8RS
Planning appeal 3374826 at Land to the West of 35 Mincing Lane, Chobham, Woking, Surrey, GU24 8RS (Surrey Heath Borough Council) was dismissed on 30 March 2026 by Inspector Marriott H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether or not the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development, with particular reference to: the effect of the proposed development on the integrity of Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBH SPA); whether or not the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt; whether or not the proposed development would be inappropriate development given the RVNP that proposes to designate the land as Local Green Space (LGS), including the effect on openness; the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area; and if the proposed development would be inappropriate development, whether or not the 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 development.
for up to 5 self-build dwellings (as a phased development)
- Authority
- Surrey Heath Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Marriott H
- Postcode
- GU24 8PA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether or not the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development, with particular reference to: the effect of the proposed development on the integrity of Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (TBH SPA); whether or not the proposed development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt; whether or not the proposed development would be inappropriate development given the RVNP that proposes to designate the land as Local Green Space (LGS), including the effect on openness; the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area; and if the proposed development would be inappropriate development, whether or not the 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 development
What decided it
The substantial harm to the character and appearance of the area and the inappropriate development in the proposed Local Green Space, which would not be clearly outweighed by the moderate benefits of providing up to five self-build dwellings in an area with a shortfall in housing land supply.
The substantial weight given to the harm to the proposed Local Green Space and character and appearance of the area was not clearly outweighed by the moderate weight afforded to the housing delivery benefits, self-build provision, and socio-economic benefits, resulting in the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighing the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CPI4B of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2011-2028Policy NRM6 of The South East Plan Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East of England 2009Policy GBC1 of the emerging Surrey Heath Local PlanPolicy CP2 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2011-2028Policy DM9 of the Surrey Heath Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2011-2028Policy CH10 of the Chobham Neighbourhood Plan 2024 to 2038 (Referendum Version)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 100Paragraph 106Paragraph 107Paragraph 108Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 143Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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
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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.