®Planning appeal decision
ambulance station (former), St Georges Hospital, 122 Suttons Lane Hornchurch, essex, RM12 6RU
the demolition of redundant/vacant buildings associated with former Hornchurch ambulance station and erection of 2 pairs of semi-detached properties together with frontage parking and private/allocated amenity space
- Authority
- London Borough of Havering
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Sedgwick P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) and any relevant development plan policies
- whether or not the scheme should make any contribution towards affordable housing provision
- whether or not the scheme would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers, with particular regard to privacy
- the effect of the proposal upon social infrastructure
What decided it
The unacceptable overlooking of future occupants' rear gardens from first-floor windows of neighbouring houses on Siskin Close, combined with the failure to provide affordable housing and the inadequate assessment of alternative social infrastructure uses, would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery.
The moderate benefits of contributing 4 housing units to the Council's housing land supply on a sustainable, previously developed site were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harms of unacceptable overlooking of future occupants, the lack of affordable housing contribution, and the loss of social infrastructure without adequate assessment of alternatives.
Framework references: 153, 154, 155, 65, 11
Plan policies cited: Policy G2 of the London Plan (2021), Policy 4 of the Havering Local Plan (2021), Policy 16 of the Havering Local Plan (2021), Policy 7 of the Havering Local Plan (2021)
Judgments cited: Skerrits of Nottingham Ltd v SSETR (No. 2) [2002] EWCA Civ 5569
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.