Land at Park Drive, Bramley, Surrey, GU5 0JY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposed dwellings would be in a suitable location for new housing with particular regard to the settlement strategy set out in the development plan
• the effect of the proposal on landscape character, including the effects on the Surrey Hills National Landscape and Area of Great Landscape Value
• the effect of the proposal on heritage assets, with particular regard to archaeology
• whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the relevant development plan policies and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework)
• the effect of the proposal on biodiversity
• the effect of the proposal on highway safety and whether the use of sustainable means of transport would be encouraged
• the effect of the proposal on existing green infrastructure

What decided it

The combined harm to landscape character/the National Landscape (attracting great weight) and the inadequately secured biodiversity harm (slow-worm translocation) significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits under the paragraph 11(d)(ii) balance.

the significant benefits of housing and affordable housing delivery, sustainable travel improvements and biodiversity net gain were outweighed by the combined harms to landscape character/the National Landscape and to biodiversity, which significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits